Title:  Rubik's Interface

Author:  Rose etta

Email:  rose_eTTTa@yahoo.com

Rating: R

Challenge: "Pet" CLFF #20             

Notes:  Fun mind-game, drama, hurt-comfort, romance. No warnings.  Dedicated to frelling_tralk, to whom I hated to say No.

Summary:   When Superman busts 33.1, Luthor gets an Arctic 'time-out', and the AI is in charge while Supes is away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

With a snap, the sloop sail of a red cloak whipped and flowed as Kal-El lowered himself against gravity, downward - subterranean - floor by floor, through holes he'd drilled earlier that day, the day they finally broke Level 33.1.

 

Stately, he descended to land evenly upon the silo-deep floor, crimson fabric gently settling about him.  The super-being from another world strode through the final room decontaminated of his foil, green-K: the busted safe-room holding Lex Luthor and his remaining bodyguard.

 

Lex Luthor stood calmly in his impeccable suit, shackled hand and foot, staring intently as he faced his arch-enemy, the Man of Steel from the Red Sun'd world.

 

Mercy was being strapped into a secure gurney and lifted up, onto Aussie grunts who hoisted her in a brusque manner, that this beauteous slip of destruction had taken so many of their colleagues.  With each of her bearers' jostling steps, her lovely blonde head lolled, below it's grime and blood trails. 

 

"Thank you, Mercy!" Luthor called out to her when her slightly-dazed eyes met his, and there was admiration in his tone as she was slid past him...which tracked his eyes...over to him.

 

Fresh fury within, Luthor once more transmuted it, compacted it, banked it, against need, and now he merely glared from blue eyes of ice.

 

"As usual, Kal-El," Luthor began, "you can't even comprehend the damage you've done here today."  He addressed Superman on a first-name basis, detesting the popular moniker and denying they were anything but peers.

 

But taunts were for naught, for once.  The battle had changed, had stopped, was - no more. 

 

Something had broken inside of Kal-El, who was putting a huge effort into closing his expression off, to look strong. 

 

Kal-El did, however, place a hand on Luthor's shoulder, heavily, and brought their faces close - close enough to rustle out words, unheard by personnel of the Aussie army unit who covered his nemesis with guns drawn, some yards back, removed.

 

With this, Luthor had gone instantly silent and alert, from the change to the usual contretemps between him and the alien.  He observed Kal-El keenly, scanning, and then tensed to avoid shuddering with each exhalation into his ear.

 

"You've...gone...too far..." Kal-El grated out, and, after looking away to compose himself once more, he turned and spoke more smoothly.

 

"Captain," Kal-El addressed the sandy-haired older gentleman, who stood by the camp-desk his hustling adjutant was still setting-up in the midst of it all. "I've personally relocated the...problematic...inmates, to locales specific to their particular needs." 

 

He asked the captain, "Would your team be able to transport the remaining inmates of 33.1 to where the U.S. can claim them?  Their destination, for now, is Belle Reve, which I've explained to the authorities, is a secure location, at least temporarily, to address the dangers this particular population holds."

 

"Don't you worry about that, Superman, Sir," the army leader replied, "I've got my boys sorting that out right now. And, I 'd like to thank you for those profiles of the lot you knew before - poor buggers."

 

Hesitating, the captain then added, "And, will we be takin' custody of Mistah Luthor also, at this time, or...?"

 

"Let me ask you, first," Kal-El responded, eyes thoughtful.  "What's it looking like, for evidence?"

 

With a sharp 'Tsk', the captain admitted, "Well, it looks like Luthor, here, had the compound booby-trapped. It's like a million little balloons of acid detonated all at once when we breached it. Every circuit board, every test device, all the hand-helds... they're all slag."

 

Canvas hat folded in hand as he wiped across his brow with the khaki sleeve of his free arm, the captain turned and spat on the concrete-powdered floor behind him, in frustration.

 

"Bloody hell. I'm tellin' ya, Superman, I haven't ever seen a place without one single bit of paper in it! Nothing."  Shaking his head, he concluded, "They musta' 'ad a rule of "No Hard Copies," of anything, at all, ever!"

 

Luthor, conspicuously nonchalant, pretended interest in the clean-up being done by the army personnel who worked off to his side, his smirk just faint enough to telegraph its intention.

 

Kal-El took it all in, looking around, working hard to subdue his response, so as not to over-gratify Luthor's known lust for his distress, which he could feel Luthor feeding on, from the little glances sent, sharp, his way. 

 

It took the passing of time before Kal-El's mouth hardened into a tight, rather grim, line, and at length he responded.

 

"No, Captain Brogan, I think I need to take custody of Mister Luthor for...a bit of time." 

 

He looked over and sent a nod, "Please give the Western-Sector General my gratitude, and ...I'll be contacting him regarding Mister Luthor...after a while," and he assumed his stern, square-jawed set of the head as he folded his bright-blue arms before his primary-colored sigil.

 

This statement greatly cheered the bloke replacing his dusty desert flop-hat, for he clearly believed the Devil was due to get his come-up, and he grinned through his salute to Kal-El, then turned away, to direct his troops, eager to share 'the news'.

 

Alone, now, together, the swirl of chaos surrounding them, Kal-el twirled around to see Luthor directly regarding him, insolence in the hold of his form, as he responded to what he'd overheard.

 

"So tell me, O!, super man," Luthor de-emphasized.  "What kind of custody are you meting out today?" 

 

Though he knew the score, he asked it anyway: "Legal Custody...or Alien-Just-Because-I-Can Do-It Custody?"

 

"The latter," came Kal-El's response.

 

"Hey!" Luthor squawked aloud when he saw the blue-costumed arm enwrap him in bright billows, which brought Luthor darkness.

 

"Wait a sec-" Luthor exclaimed, at one moment in time, in the dry Outback -

 

Within that moment of time, before Luthor would see light next, Kal-El had swept them to his Arctic Fortress to descend within.

 

But before that moment ended, however, the taut, blue form froze still in the air, arms wrapped 'round crimson chrysalis, then began a blinding spin, till gold light shone forth, in brilliance.

 

- then Luthor finished, "-ond!" to stare around in momentary off-balance, noticing the feel of fluttery snowflakes melting upon the globe of his bare, warm head - and, then, upon his astonished, upturned face, as he looked around, sucking his breath, in amazement, at the frosty angular shafts reaching so high.

 

With difficulty, Luthor sought aplomb by the time his shoulders had been freed.

 

"Where -, where have you just kidnapped me?" Luthor sputtered, as the protective cloak was peeled off him, "I demand to know!"

 

"Shut up, Luthor," Kal-El said, with the mildly dismissive tone that he could enjoy, for once, from being on home ground, and he clamped a rough hand on Luthor's shoulder, causing a clanking of chains and manacles. "Don't move for a few moments," and he turned away, to approach his crystalline command console.

 

Having already set his mental monitor to 'Record', with Kal-El's back to him now, Luthor glanced or stared at everything, strikingly attentive.  When he began to shiver from his lack of weather gear, he was annoyed his manacles prevented the use of his trouser pockets to warm his hands. 

 

His arms crossed over his chest, now, he huddled to warm his fingertips as best as they could reach, and he cursed to himself, then venomously, aloud, to his captor.

 

"You don't have any authority over me, Kal-El," Luthor breathed-out harshly, between hearty exclamations as to the extreme temperature, "Fuck! it's cold, here."

 

"Don't worry," Kal-El said, somewhat curtly, "I'm having the AI adjust the ambient tempt for you, now."  Then he returned his attention to his console.

 

"Hey, Extra-Wide-Load-estrial!" Luthor yelled, and when Kal-El spared a glance, said, "Yeah, you!  I don't know what you think you're doing.  You're breaking some major, non-hero-reputation-friendly laws, here."

 

Luthor was being ignored.  He tweaked his lip in frustration as he gave a kick at the heavy, cold mist that slithered the floor and snaked the bases of the massive, cubic-ridged columns rising from chasms all around.

 

"You know," Luthor began his vocal musing, "it's funny, but I don't seem to remember being taught Kryptonian history in school."

 

Luthor took a breath and continued.

 

"And, I believe it therefore follows, stupor man, that MY Constitution does not support what the passing UFO-ster randomly feels like doing to a Human goddamn Being, on any given, goddamn, day!"

 

Still nothing from the super-being, who was standing still, facing slightly upward now, his eyes closed.

 

Muttering, Luthor fretted, "I can't believe, going from my Kryptonite safe-room ...to this shithead's fucking lair!"

 

Then he groused, "Look at him, over there..." but he stopped, as an odd perspective swept his mind.

 

~~~my god, could he really be an android?~~~

 

Luthor put his brain to spin on that, as he renewed his verbal harangue.

 

"So, Kal-El," Luthor expanded, "do I really have to paint out the picture for you?  The charity proceeds from your toy sales?" Luthor answered, "Well, they're mine, now."

 

Rocking onto his heels, Luthor continued, "Non-profit Superman-Inc will face a civil judgment, ordering it to pay the incredibly-high legal fees of my top-flight attorneys... then, add total business losses resultant of my enforced absence... which, heh, I'll calculate, of course... then, there's triple damages for..."

 

But, at the scowling face appearing instantly before him, Luthor broke it off.

 

"Want me to toss you over?" Kal-El said with a short jerk of his head toward the sheer edge of the thick ice shaft they perched upon, barely wide across for a flying being and a command station, "just so I can catch you...at the bottom?

 

Looking away, Luthor responded with a quirk to his lips while the boredom settled in, as it always did, when Kal-El threatened to play his Dark Superman-card.  In non-verbal protest, the billionaire assumed an emphasized docile-prisoner posture.

 

~~~how can eyes~~~that pretty~~~hide such a little bitch?~~~ Luthor thought to himself as he watched Kal-El, who had just slipped a short crystalline obelisk into a tall clear tube.

 

Luthor noticed no immediate result to the action, as Kel-El stood, seemingly in anticipation.  But, slowly, there began increasing rumbling and shaking, and, rapidly, Luthor grew alarmed, despite himself.

 

~~~on the other hand, it's good to have a Superman around during an evident Arctic earthquake~~~ Luthor admitted to himself.

 

For, it truly looked as if the massive, crystalline columns at the far end of his line of sight, in the vast distance beyond, were performing a slow boil, with some ice shafts riding upward, to join with other sections as they were met, sliding down. 

 

Then, there was a sudden stillness and now Luthor could make out a huge, flat area, where before a bizarre jumble had lain amid the thick, churning mist. 

 

Kal-El looked across the vast hall, into the distance, toward the several acres that the Fortress' Artificial Intelligence had formed, per the Kryptonian's crystal-coded command.

 

Looking impressed, for once, Luthor looked back to Kal-El, whose hands were now a blur of smaller crystals passing from colored-chamber to colored-chamber. 

 

Tinkling, sharper explosions cracked forth from the ice-mesa, which arrested Luthor's attention back to the distance.

 

When all was quiet once more, Luthor turned to find Kal-El studying him, then grimaced when the brightly-clad figure began his approach.

 

The alien stood before him now, red boots dug in, blue arms crossed, fabric floimsonwing from each shoulder, like cr epaulets donned for flight.

 

With a pained sigh, Luthor rolled his eyes a bit and asked, "Alright, let's get it over with!"

 

Looking mildly amazed at Luthor's attitude, Kal-El finally began his reprimand. 

 

"Lex," he said, "you do know who I am, right?" and he dipped his head down, into Luthor's face.

 

A short surprised chuckle from the human, then, "Oh," then, after nodding his head, "Ah, so, it's 'Lex', now?"

 

He licked his lips as he paused, then admitted, "Yes, I suppose that means you want me to call you, 'Clark'..."

 

His face changed, "But the 'Clark', I knew, is dead and gone, and, since then, you're merely the alien, Kal-El, now," and his expression was hard, from the saying of it.

 

Kal-El went right on, ignoring the bitter drench of those words.

 

"Lex, you were keeping whole fucking families in that personal asylum of yours!  No freedom...no life...just existing for your tests!" 

 

He grew exasperated, as Luthor seemed to be waiting for Kal-el to come to his point.

 

Searching for words, Kal-El unfolded his arms and gestured toward his face, "Lex! You were doing my worst nightmare!"

 

Suavely indignant, Luthor gave a little harrumph, then tossed-off, "Surely, not!  They had the best of everything!" then listed, "Medical care, food, sanitation..."

 

In a mild horror, Kal-El held his frown, then said, "Lex, there were kids in there! ...living their lives as ...as, your test-subjects!"

 

~~~his color is so high~~~ some part of Lex noticed in passing as they stood, not far apart.

 

"What?" Luthor finally smirked.  "I'm supposed to send 'Cindy-Lou Mutant' off to Nursery School, so she can suck the life out of a couple of playmates?"

 

Mouth and eyes open, Kal-El was aghast, then bit out, "They are human beings, Lex, for chrissake!  You can't set up your own personal community of inmates, outside of public systems," he sputtered on, "and away from - from public scrutiny!"

 

Riled, Luthor leaned forward, "Well, I'm not about to let public institutions fuck-up something as delicate at this operation!" and his manacles shook along their chains, down to his feet.

 

"'This operation'" Kal-El leaned down to shout, "is something the world is supposed to know better, not to do!"

 

Kal-El moved in close, cocking his head to one side, then the other, taunting, "Mister…History…Lesson."

 

Lex muttered, "That's, 'Foreign History', to you."

 

Folding his arms once more, the alien asked, "Or, perhaps in history, you found a man to admire?"

 

"You know, if I had my watch on," Lex stated flatly, "I'd see if I won my bet with myself, on how long it would take you to make the Mengele-comparison," but then Lex mimed checking his wrist. 

 

"Oh, look," Lex said without joy, "I did win the prize," then he sought Kal-El's eyes, "A flying doll, with stuffing in his head."

 

Kal-El clamped down his expression and spun on his boot heel to pace in agitation.

 

In a minute, Luthor inquired, "So, what's with all the real estate modification?

 

As if called back from deep thought, Kal-El's expression, upon turning, was genuinely sad, more than anything.

 

"Lex, you're going to be staying here, for a while."

 

Luthor's mouth popped open at the shock, and he gasped, "You're kidding me, right?  You - the guy specifically preaching, don't lock people up outside of public systems?"

 

With chained hands barely above waist-level in mock supplication to the heavens, Luthor complained.

 

"This is what I get, for all my subtle genius?" then dropped his eyes to Kal-El's, to catalogue:

 

"I get a simple-minded..."

 

Kal-El sighed and tilted his head back slightly as he parked his focus up high.  He placed his hands on his hips, preparing for an expected onslaught of insult.

 

"...do-gooder, whose..." and Lex raised his brows lightly through his nasal pronunciation of, "...up-bringing..."

 

This slap at Smallville brought forth a glare, to which Lex now smirked as he added on,

 

"...sapped even a rudimentary sense of basic irony those poor alien parents might have hoped for their child to possess....."

 

At that, he paused, playing at catching himself.

 

"I mean," Lex corrected, "...'what they might have hoped, for their 'it' to possess'..."

 

At the curl Luthor's lip and pointed look, Kal-El departed instantly, to places unknown, and Lex wore a pleased look as he quietly chuckled.

 

Soon, Lex heard echoed noises from the far reaches of the newly raised mesa of ice and he busied himself trying to discern through the light mist what he could.

 

**

 

"Hurry up, over there!" Lex roared after a while.  "I'm missing an important meeting as we speak, and I'll call you to task, publicly, over any..."

 

"Stuff it, Lex," the reply came, in a sudden instant that Kal-El now stood before him, retuning from the distance in a blink.  "I don't...want... to hear it."

   

Stifling a physical start, always so difficult for Lex, what with the alarming suddenness of arrival and departure around this creature. Luthor got his juices up, settling in for another round. 

 

"By all means," Lex squared his shoulders, glad to get going again, "I'm your captive audience," and he jangled his hands before him.   "Do, let me hear your Sup-erior level of bullshit."

 

At this, Kal-El looked down, then back up, then, in an instant, Luthor's arms dropped freely, of their own, to his side, and he looked to confirm his lack of chains.

 

"Thank you," Lex said, rubbing his wrists, "but wasn't that a little late, coming? It's obvious, you don't entertain much..."  

 

Kal-El firmed his jaw at this constant disregard from his erstwhile close friend.

 

Taking a deep breath, Kal-El addressed Luthor: "Lex, I really can't handle you getting around the law, like you always do, on this one."

 

"Excellent, Kal-El!" Luthor applauded, "You've got that 'Alien Conqueror' whole thing just nailed.  You know: rise above the earth, then hold yourself above the law."

 

Abashed, Kal-El struggled to regain his posture of certitude and his brows fretted slightly before he commenced again. 

 

Lex had to turn his face, to veil his mirthful satisfaction.

 

"Lex - Lex, I'm not really saying it's the best thing -"

 

With sardonic tone, Luthor chimed, "I think the Supreme Court and the President would agree, so why don't you just return me right now and -"

 

"Lex!" Kal-El found his strength, "I won't let you do anything like 33.1 again!"

 

With an exaggerated eye-roll, Luthor delivered, "Fine!" and he acted as if the summit had be reached.

 

"The lawyers of your choice," Lex said, "will draw up -"

 

Luthor leaned into the super-being's face as he went on, and Kal-El drew his mitts into fists on either side of his hips and he glowered downward at him.

 

Distracting himself from Luthor's spiel, Kal-El pro-actively scanned him for any illnesses or conditions, before his confinement at the Fortress of Solitude. 

 

That done, Kal-El found himself drawing softly his regard across the smooth, pale face bristling before him, noting which pore was of trifling concern today... counting the times ginger lashes darted down then swept themselves upward like wings ...checking if taunting lips were parching for want of water.

 

He picked up Luthor's rant: "-any contractual arrangement you want and I will sign it immediately, and then will you pull that Kryptonite hair out of whatever you have for an exit orifice?"

                                                                                                                    

Trying to end it, Kal-El delivered with full glower, "Luthor! I will not let you!"

 

That halted Lex, and his smile grew malicious.

 

Oh," Lex breathed with soft sounds, so satisfied, "I see you're finally admitting: it's just you and me, this is all about."

 

Kal-El took a nanosecond to gulp, without notice, then voiced, "No, Lex, that's not it..."

 

He swirled away a few steps, to get some relief, then turned and said, "Or, at least, it's not that simple." 

 

Luthor stayed quiet, and the explanation continued.

 

Turning back, with a thoughtful glance, Kal-El stumbled out, "I...I don't know what to do about you, Lex ...I don't... know what to do about you..." and he stared off as he paused.

 

Now Luthor was worried.  A kidnapping alien unsure of his purpose was a scenario Lex needed to manipulate to his advantage and contain within the realm of normal affairs... by setting limits.

 

"Kal-El," Luthor asked congenially, "it would be wise to consult with an attorney before you indulge your understandable -" and oh, was he conceding, "-distress, and we'll meet back here in, say, four hours?  That'll give you -"

 

Softly came the negation, "No, Lex, I'll see you in about nine weeks..."

 

"Nine weeks?" Lex vituperated, "Are you fucking out of your mind?  You know what nine weeks will do to my -" but he was cut off.

 

"Wait! I know now, Lex!" Kal-El said, his expression firm with sudden resolve.  "I know, now, what to do with you!"

 

"Do with me?" Luthor blurted indignantly, then admonished himself, ~~~keep quiet~~~listen~~~.

 

For, now Kal-El's face was hopeful, and he looked at peace with himself.

 

"Listen, Lex," Kal-El explained, "you have to stay here and solve one of the top problems of humanity ...a Nobel Prize-level solution...and then I'll let you go back to your life."

 

Beginning to look like he'd been called out, Luthor responded with tone low, "You'll 'let' me go back to my life?"

 

Then he took-in Kal-El's unwavering expression.

 

"And, while we're at it," Lex went onward with hyperbole, "why don't I solve time travel and, and - hey, why don't I build a machine that can put all of your Humpty-Dumpty Planet back together again, and -"

 

"Quiet!" Kal-El spat at that, and Luthor let the disdain of his own features finish for him.

 

"You will stay over there," Kal-El stated, and he pointed his arm forth to the distance, "on that plateau."

 

"I've already provided living quarters," he added, "and once I get you over there, I'll outfit the most advanced lab you've ever seen," tacking on his own brand of smirk.

 

The decree was enacted, as Lex found himself being flown toward the far mesa.  Riding with the crook of his arm caught around Kal-El's neck, Luthor's eyes sought all from around him as he was floated through that Escher-like landscape.

 

Having landed Luthor upon his feet, Kal-El stood back, muscles beneath bright blue rippling as he fanned his elbows out to rest his fists upon his hips.

 

Kal-El added, "You'll also have the use, within limits, of the Artificial Intelligence that's based here."

 

"You mentioned that," Luthor mentioned, "I was going to ask you about it -"

 

Lex was cut-short by Kal-El's hand outstretched flat, stopping Lex mid-sentence, and the alien stood transfixed, looking as if listening.

 

Now: "That's it... no more talk... you'll have all you'll need... I've got to leave now."

 

And, Kal-El was there no more. 

 

Luthor whirled, to verify his abandonment.

 

"That's it?" Lex shouted upward through the few snow flakes that swirled around him, from the sudden departure.

 

"And, nine fucking weeks?" and he was warmed in the Artic air by his fury.

 

His arms waiving as he decried his fate to the sepulchral silence.

 

Luthor was nearly caught off-balance, by the quiet sound of a greeting emanating from above him, to his side.

 

And he swung around, to behold:

 

A flickering image of Clark as he remembered him, the old Clark, with short, juvenile bangs, and red plaid flannel...

 

And, Lex gaped.  

 

~~~My Clark!~~~ Lex thought. 

 

He walked around it, seeing it flicker at times.  It was actually a form, appearing three-dimensional, but it was not solid - he could see through it somewhat. 

 

~~~it's~~~it's just the~~~ image~~~and mannerisms~~~ overlaid~~~ Luthor began to conjecture.

 

Now, it 'spoke' to him, a second time, evidently, to hail, although the voice emanated from above.

 

"I was saying, hello, Mister Luthor, I am the Artificial Intelligence embodying this structure."

 

Luthor stared.

 

"Before Kal-El departed," the introduction continued, "I was instructed to interface with you, and you are in my care when Kal-El is away."

 

Luthor wasn't putting effort into answering the echoing voice from above, synched to those perfect lips.  Instead, his expression twisted into one of true personal offense.

 

"How dare you do this to me?" he coldly demanded of the flickering projection, staring into down-to-the-last-wavelength-correct green, young eyes.

 

"How dare you taunt me with the image of your master from... before... when he was my faithless friend?"

 

The imago's answering smile was open and calm - so like the charming boy of a decade ago.  The form ducked its face down then looked up, through a fringe of hair.

 

Luthor swallowed to settle himself.

 

"With all respect, Mister Luthor," the voice came down to him with steady, slow explanation, "this is the persona your own subconscious presented to me."

 

~~~and the minx has the nerve to slip in a grin~~~ Luthor noticed in annoyance.

 

"What the hell are you talking about?" Lex demanded with affront.

 

At the same time, he stepped closer to examine all around the flickering almost-boy, and he had a grudging sense of marvel at the lips moving with the gentle voice that floated down to him from somewhere in the heights above.

 

"Mister Luthor," and the holographic solid spoke, as it's agate-green eyes followed the man examining him, "I merely evaluated your brain-data for the persona you'd feel most at ease with, and would be the most receptive to, which is essential for us to perform our tasks together to the utmost level of achievement."

 

~~~uncanny~~~ Luthor couldn't suppress the thought, as he resumed his inspection - at the same time, tamping-down his own memories brought forth from seeing this, this flimsy thing - that looked like his Clark. 

 

Those golden cheeks, perfect under sun-kissed rose, called Lex closer, to examine.  Then, they flickered, and he resumed his annoyance.

 

"You went into my brain?" he halted and then he stood tall, "I don't like your assumption that you have de facto access to my mind."

 

The three-dimensional imago of young Clark held up its palm in peace, speaking, "Your mind is your own, Mister Luthor, but your brain is a database which I can access purely on a read-only basis."

 

Lex quirked his lips and tightly bit out, "I forbid you access to my brain ever again, as a self-aware, indigenous life form, and if you don't respect that, then we have nothing to 'interface' about." 

 

A small smile and young Clark's image replied, "Then, we have no problem, Mister Luthor," and he held the smile too long - intentionally, Lex began to feel.

 

Luthor's face soured as he nodded, then declared solemnly, "Oh, so you already retrieved everything there was to possess, didn't you?"

 

The smile on the boyish image did not alter.

 

"Mister Luthor," and the image flickered again, "we are wasting your time - I believe you want to get back to your life as soon as possible."  He raised his brows innocently.

 

Beginning with a faint growl, Luthor voiced, "You're just as dubious and manipulative as Clark, your face-sake.

 

"Interestingly enough," suddenly, a different, harsh, voice began to bloom, as the image shifted into the form of his late-father, Lionel.

 

"I am the next persona down, Lex, Dear Boy - and, although I am, of course, gratified whenever you come to your senses, Lex...about how we are a team," - the toothy grin turned ugly - "there's the matter of my being second to your sophomoric wet-dream fantasy -" and he was sharply interrupted.

 

"Bring back my Clark!"

 

And, it was so.  

 

The flickering imago of the golden boy with the beaming smile returned - a smile held-back, a tiny bit, just enough, so as not to presume impersonation of the original.

 

Nonetheless, Lex focused on the agate-green irises of this alien interface persona, window-orbs of his new artificial helpmate, looking for something he thought he just now saw - a glint, there!

 

- and Luthor immediately postulated it as the AI bleeding-through.

 

~~~definitely, amusement on a deeper level than the real, simple Clark could ever have evinced~~~ Lex sniffed.

 

"I am yourClark, Mister Luthor," the steady voice sounded from above, and Lex watched the mist-faded tint of hisClark's lips move, seeing vaguely through the thing, to the strange, swirling landscape surrounding them.

 

"And, as you know, I have already set the ambient temperature for this plateau; please inform me if you wish it attenuated. I can answer your questions, within limits, I'm sure you'll understand.  Please acquaint yourself with your closet of clothes and the food set out, and your customary refreshment is awaiting you at the side-table."

 

Taking a Greyhound's bead across the icy white floor, Luthor muttered, "Good boy," as he made rapid strides to the Scotch.

 

**                                                    

 

When his second drink was a brief, intense memory, Luthor moved to the seating within his living zone and chose a black, plush divan. 

 

As he sank in, then settled back, to sip, he stared, frankly.

 

~~~it's just~~~uncanny~~~ Lex couldn't leave off feeling, while his rational mind occupied itself listing and evaluating the particulars of his present situation.

 

~~~it almost seems like a person~~~but I can tell it's not solid~~~

 

Eventually, the ghostly image flickered then offered a suggestion.

 

"Another option would be for you to use manual-entry consoles, although you would be slowed by the necessity of learning the fine-points of the crystal-system..."

 

"Fine!" Lex conceded, and you could tell, it smarted. 

 

"You stay," Lex added, "but I refuse the propaganda aspect of this, with your blatant ingratiation, and..."

 

And, hisClark patiently bore all, until Lex quieted, then the alien interface efficiently directed Luthor's attention to an icy panel upon which a list of mankind's hundred or so gravest problems had been projected.

 

Luthor ignored it, for now.  He was still observing the interface.

 

After a while, Lex lowered a keen eye and asked, "Surely, your holographic capability is superior to what you're demonstrating."

 

~~~that spark in its eye, again~~~ Lex noted, then hisClark spoke.

 

"The flicker is timed to draw random eye movement to me just before I make a statement," hisClark confessed, not a whit abashed - if anything, hisClark showed himself to be more assessing of his human charge, "and at occasional times in between."

 

Another sip, another while, and Luthor stated, "You know, of course, that your master is insane."

 

HisClark took this with sophisticated good humor, with a subtle tilt of head and barely-pursed lips.

 

~~~so very sharp~~~and yet it still mimics Clark remarkably~~~ Luthor thought, then mused aloud, "What a chimera you are."

 

HisClark bowed a bit, small smile returning.

 

Lex looked down to swirl his drink and he grinned.

 

"I'm not going to indulge in bemoaning my fate, nor do I have any illusions about my ability to persuade Self-Righteous Man to release me without my having...paid my," Lex smirked richly, "'penance to society'."

 

Resigned, liquidly relaxed, Lex looked toward hisClark, and asked, "What resources do you have to offer me in this Ghandi-esque redemptive mission I'm stuck with, if anything, to while-away the time, until our Caped Caveman returns to his den?"

 

To business once again, hisClark blandly summed it with, "I can provide you any data on your planet, plus quantum processing speed."

 

Luthor blanched, "Any data on the planet?"

 

At hisClark's confirmation, Lex dully said, "Wait until I fetch that decanter over there, Alien-Interface Kent-Boy, and I pour myself another, okay?"

 

"Alrighty, now" Luthor plopped down upon his seating area's divan, "Let's go over what you know about my business."

 

**

 

~~~oh, this is not good~~~ Luthor moaned internally.

 

~~~this is~~~very~~~not good~~~ and he set the slitted eyes of the suffering upon the imago that was steadily snuffing his dreams of surreptitious hegemony.

 

When Lex managed to lift a limp hand to stop the onslaught pouring from hisClark - sensitive details of project after project - he muttered, "Well, I'll have to figure out a way to relieve you of that level of intimacy with my affairs -"

 

"Good luck!" came snark so typical of the real boy that Lex, in a moment of irrational consternation, considered, then discarded, that this had been some charade - 

 

~~~is this really Kal-El?~~~ Lex quirked his brows ~~~just fucking with my mind?~~~

 

Then Lex shook his head, thinking ~~~no, no, no~~~this alien interface is more on my level~~~not like that ox-brained, boring…~~~ and internally he ran down favorite descriptors, as he and the glimmering imago shared looks with each other.

 

At last, Luthor stated, "Well, it's been a hell of a day."

 

Then, "And, I think I'm going to shower, then retire for the evening." 

 

Lex waited.

 

He continued, "Could you please 'turn off' and leave me alone," and hisClark vanished leaving Lex to mutter, "though, I don't think there's any 'alone' for me anywhere, it seems," and he entered to familiarize himself with the his accommodations.

 

**

 

A sifted flake of tiny chill left melted snow upon Lex's cheek and he awoke, opening his eyes to the diffuse glow of pale gray that were the walls of his sleep chamber.

 

"You let that one get through, you Son-of-a-Bitch!" he raised his voice, then coughed his throat clear a couple of times as he lifted himself to one elbow, surveying the steadily lightening scene.

 

"My apologies," came the boyish voice from somewhere above the imago, when it appeared to him at the side of his bed.

 

"Your own body," it said, "was in its pre-waking sequence and I robbed you of less than a minute."

 

Luthor was snagging a thick terry robe and he set the owlish eyes of the newly-arisen upon hisClark throughout the duration of his dressing.  Settling his jacket then touching-up his tie, Lex finally addressed his keeper.

 

"Explain why you did that to me," Luthor bit out.

 

"I was determining your level of sensitivity," came the voice, and Lex noted that the image no longer bothered to flicker for him.

 

"I see," Lex snapped, "so, the bonus of this is, Alien Interface Kent-Boy gets its own test animal?"

 

Luthor goaded on, "Right?  You two aren't happy with usurping legal authority ...now, I'm blessed with your idea of Kent-Karma...personified even, for chrissake ...dishing what you think I do, back at me?"

 

HisClark explained levelly, "You're thinking of 'Knowledge is power' - that's not what this is."

 

"What, then?" Luthor flashed, "'Idle curiosity'?"

 

"Not 'idle'," and hisClark gave a friendly enough look.

 

As his brows raised height, Lex answered this with an astonished start, and his blue eyes tracked back and forth across the open face presented to him. 

 

"So," Luthor piped in amazement, "being shanghaied into this scalable Community Service Project, and...and having to live with the... warped image of someone... whom I hate ...that isn't enough?" and his hands were spread wide in the air as he gestured.

 

"No!" he expostulated in rhetorical reply, "You get to fuck with me, too." 

 

HisClark said mildly, "Now, you're thinking in terms of abuse, and that's off the mark as well."

 

"All right," Lex challenged, "explain yourself."

 

The image of young Clark smiled and spoke, "Have you not felt someone stir, beside you, and touched their cheek?"

 

With a small intake of air, Luthor took a lurching step back and stared, and he found hisClark's glinting eyes inscrutable now.

 

On auto-pilot until he regained mastery of himself, Lex turned and made for his refreshment area.

 

~~~what a freaky entity~~~ he thought with a shudder.

 

Lex complained over his shoulder, "Part of me wants to ask if my Father's behind all this," but his eager hands were left empty when he saw no fresh decanter available in the matter box, and he twisted around to face the imago, last straw.

 

"Breakfast first," hisClark grinned.

 

"Well," Lex snapped, imagining himself striking, for a moment, that boyish grin, "now I know Dad's behind it," and he approached the holographic imago to make a stand.

 

"Is this to be a place of no personal freedom?" he asked, placing his hands in his pockets as he faced the form.

 

"Actually," adopting a slightly sheepish pose, hisClark said, "this one is due to Kal-El.  I, myself, know that you are capable of functioning quite well while you abuse your organs," and he finished with a wry set to his lips.

 

Lex only gave a slight take at that, catching those glinting eyes, then went on, ignoring the entendre and instead assuming a bored voice.

 

"Fine, what do I have to eat, in order to drink?" at which hisClark proceeded to set out a light meal.

 

**

 

Crystal glass grasped in hand at last ~~~well-earned~~~ he thought, Luthor settled himself within his seating area.

 

Addressing the holographic imago, 'standing' some feet before him, "Here, let me see your top ten of 'Mankind's Gravest Ills'," he asked, as if they were something to get out of the way by dinnertime.

 

The abbreviated list was projected, once again utilizing a shale-face of white ice before him, and hisClark removed itself from the line of sight.

 

"Global Warming," Lex read aloud then continued.

 

"Yeah, well, that would impact too many of my own industries, so that's getting bumped." 

 

He turned to hisClark, "Besides, I know someone with The Frigid Breath of Doom," and he gave an errant shrug, "so, no worries."

 

"Let's see: Energy Crisis," he read on.

 

"Okay, that's how we get my industries out of the Global Warming issue. Great, let's go with that one."

 

**

 

Sixteen hours and two meals later, Luthor was showering before bed. 

 

~~~not  a bad day~~~ he mused lazily ~~~and if you're in my mind, Mister Alien Interface, you can go fuck yourself~~~

 

- which brought up images of his artificial companion obeying obligingly.

 

- which Lex's body offered to assist.

 

~~~god, I am so damned~~~

 

His regular, his normal, even his very favorite Clark fantasies: old news. 

 

Soon, Lex was desperately flashing through his memories of his day with the monster who toyed with him, of the boy who cared for him, the green-eyed, full-lipped, golden beauty, the glint of intelligence...

 

"OH!" Lex exclaimed then bit back his sounds as he released.  

 

He was left to brace himself against the smooth shower wall, warm pelt of the raining water enhancing the glow.

 

~~~jeezus fucking H christ~~~ and Lex composed himself to exit and dry quickly, then to put himself to bed.

 

**

 

During his second day's morning meal, Luthor admitted he had failed the propaganda test this seductive entity posed him.  He'd been spending some time discussing it with himself.

 

~~~yes, but why should I care, if it's flirting with me?'~~~ Lex posed the question.

 

~~~there's obviously no one else around here up to it's level~~~

 

He was sipping his cappuccino as he observed the image that was his companion, and he pondered.

 

~~~I'd certainly flirt with myself, if I were in it's place~~~

 

And then, he repeated his primary disclaimer.

 

 ~~~I mean, really, it's not as if it can do anything~~~

 

He gave a lingering once-over of the three-dimensional image, then made sure he'd got it all, by revisiting. 

 

Finally, a small sigh, and then, "Let's get going," and, placing his cup upon the table, they set to work upon their scheme for saving the world.

 

**

 

The weeks passed with Lex Luthor and the Kryptonian Artificial Intelligence working well together.

 

"Run the simulation on the lead-sulfide quantum dot," Lex ordered.

 

"Seven electrons per photon," hisClark replied instantly with the results.

 

"Really?" Lex crowed.  "That high?"

 

Reaching for a small data crystal set to his side, Luthor added, "So, lead-telluride's not the only one that gives us that much."

 

"Yet, still," hisClark reminded, "recapture rate by holes is unfortunately commensurate."

 

"Well," Luthor gave a slight shrug, "we'll just have to address that as a doping issue at the end -" but he stopped short, turning around as he heard himself hailed.

 

"Lex!" harkened Kal-El, wearing an honest smile as he landed, but he stumbled just as his booted-foot touched down.

 

The graceful flow of his curtaining cloak jerked and faulted at his slight lurch.

 

Kal-el stood, agog, at hisClark. 

 

"Wh-What are you doing?" he slowly asked, looking straight at his doppelganger.

 

Luthor stilled as he glanced back and forth.

 

Suddenly, the alien's face was twisted with indignity - then both he and his imago vanished.

 

His lab partner now absent, Lex placed the crystals down, with care, as his chuckling crescendoed.

 

~~~just priceless~~~ he crowed within ~~~sure looks as if  Poster Boy wasn't supposed to come with the Guest Bedroom~~~

 

He stood smirking, and savored the absurdity.  He poured a commiseration drink, for poor ol' Kal-El, and he raised his arm, along with his rich voice, to toast.

 

"To Kal-El: Master of his own house - except for the intelligent part!'" which he knew for a fact had been overheard, and he snickered into his Scotch.      

 

**

 

Deep red billows settled slowly around the heavily-built form in blue, as Kal-El stood in his chamber, to where he had recalled the AI:  the furthest end of his Fortress from Lex Luthor. 

 

Standing so rigidly before his own communication console, in turns his arms crossing his chest or his hands clenching at his side, Kal-El silently underwent an inner communication.

 

~~~how can you possibly have approached him as you did?~~~

 

He broke away and pace agitatedly ~~~I forbid you to impersonate me ever~~~ he mentally sent the order to the AI.

 

He was huffing his breath, in distress ~~~in any manner~~~of resemblance~~~

 

Came the mental voice ~~~Kal-El, you know it was the smoothest interface I could hope for~~~

 

~~~but did you have to look so much~~~like I was~~~back then?~~~ was Kal-El's plaintive question.

 

~~~there is only hatred, for years since~~~ the AI explained.

 

Both hands over his face now, the super-being shook his head back and forth, in dismay.

 

"I can't believe what you did!" Kal-El shouted aloud.

 

"Kal-El, how has this troubled you?" the AI's voice came down from above.

 

Facing upward, Kal-El half-yelled in anguish, "You know!" 

 

Then, he looked down, "I regret...so...much."

 

"Kal-El, my interface persona will change immediately," the AI assured.

 

Beginning to relax the heave of his shoulders, Kal-El moved to step down - then tensed.

 

"To whom?" Kal-El checked.

 

"To that of Lionel Luthor," answered the AI voice, from above.

 

**

 

"Hello, Lex," Kal-El said with a smile as he floated down lightly, to set himself upon the Luthor plateau the next morning.

 

"What the fuck are you doing here?" came the greeting as Lex stood.  He had yet to put himself to bed and in yesterday's dark pin-stripe he strode up with decanter in one hand, crystal glass in the other. 

 

"And, where's the other?" as he glanced around, blinking against dry eyes.

 

"Look, Lex," Kal-El started off, all positive attitude, "I'm here out-of-costume, to make you feel better about talking to me, and maybe you can think about letting me help you, and-"

 

"Look, Kal-El," he echoed Kal-El's cheeriness in simplistic sing-song, as he slowly made his way back to his seat, "I don't care if you show up in Pampers and a tutu, you're still an ass of super-dimensions and I'm on strike, anyway."

 

"'On strike'?" Kal-El blinked.

 

"Yeah," Luthor explained as he held the glass to his grin, "wanna hear my slogan? 'No work, only drink' - really gets the whole picture out there at once. And, you know, I'm rather proud of myself for resisting the call of all those data crystals over there -" and he held out his hand out, as if the lab station pulled an invisible string tied around it.

 

Kal-El watched as a bit of amber liquid got thrown over the clear rim of Luthor's drink, then ran his assessing glance back to his erstwhile friend who was mugging pulling his glass back into his complete control, and who then turned a brightened face to his host.

 

"See?  D'you see that?" Lex gloated, "I held my own!  I showed you who's ... boss," and he snapped his fingers under the alien's nose - on his second try.

 

"You're drunk?" Kal-El showed his disapproval and his tone had meant to chide, but Luthor just smiled into his next gulp, and he swallowed as he shook his head, then he put a hand on Kal-El's shoulder, in an over-played conciliatory manner.

 

"Kal-El, that's really, really marvelous," he came close enough to breath spirits up Kal-El's wrinkling nose.

 

~~~he's still so adorable when he does that~~~ Luthor took a second to muse with a faint smile, then continued.

 

"You have now also managed to distil," and he sipped, with a small chuckle, "your part in this dilemma, by illustrating why you must now leave the Luthor Wing." 

 

Then, he paused until attaining the alien's fullest attention.

 

"You're too stupid for me," Lex puffed into Kal-El's shocked face.  He held his glare for the second it took for Kal-El to vanish and Lex's arm to drop.

 

Lex turned around in a stumble, joyful from his success, but then Lex kept on turning around, just turning and turning, seeing only the gray-white pastels of his milieu, centrifugal force pulling his wool-covered arms upward.

 

His wobble resulted from his slight off-center of gravity, empty glass in one hand, full decanter in the other.  He began amusing himself with seeing how well he could pour his next one, while twirling, glass and decanter tilted sideways.

 

"Give me back my Clark", he gave a yell suddenly that bent him almost in half, and he slowed his spin with barely a short falter.

 

Licking his lips reminded him of his thirst, so he refreshed himself for a while.

 

~~~and isn't it fitting that I'm in my Refreshment Area?~~~ he nodded to himself.

 

He made his way to where he had been sitting, before his morning's Super visit, and announced loudly, "But I am now commandeering this Seating Area, and turning it into a Yelling Area," and he plunked down.

 

"Let's see you keep me from doing it," he murmured as he surveyed his realm.

 

**

 

At the far end of the Fortress, Kal-El puttered around the console area, working hard to distract himself.  He had finally gotten to the point where he could stand tall, as if he were completely fine, but he couldn't raise his eyes yet.

 

"He is spoiling his cage, Kal-El," he was alerted. 

 

A direct-feed was displayed upon the shale-planed ice-wall before Kal-El, showing Luthor tossing full decanters toward the edges of his ice plateau at the speed the matter-box could supply them. 

 

Kal-El saw Lex drop to one knee from time to time in between pitches as he shouted, "Yeah, Baby!" and "That's what I'm talking about!"

 

A drenched force-field was becoming visible, around the perimeter of Luthor's mesa - the parts he had reached as of yet. 

 

With defeat, at last Kal-El spoke in a soft husk, after clearing his throat a little minute.

 

"Point taken, AI," and he did lift hurt eyes, with a flash of pretend grin, but looked back down again quickly to guide what his hands were doing on some other project.

 

"Carry on," he whispered.

 

**

 

The significance of seeing the return to Luthor, of hisClark, over the rim of his raised glass, failed to register at first, so accustomed was he to the pleasant sight of it, after more than two months co-existence.

 

Luthor squinted as he squalled out, "Which one are you?

 

"I am yourClark, Mister Luthor," came the tolerant smile.

 

"You're not that Super-ass trying to fool me, are you?"

 

"No."

 

"Better not be," Luthor warned darkly, taking pains to tip his glass back in a manner such that he could keep his eye on the newcomer while still yet imbibe.

 

Then, hisClark clinched Luthor's acceptance, for he gave the almost-full-beam smile, so characteristic of only him.

 

Luthor downed the rest of what his glass held, then announced, "Fine, then... let's get to work!"

 

But all he could show for his enthusiasm was, one hand lifted a semi-flop off the divan, while the other allowed his empty glass to roll to the floor with a thunk.

 

"I suggest you mobilize yourself toward your bed while you are still capable, Mister Luthor."

 

Resting his chin on his chest while listening to this, Lex was presently blinking to ascertain the fate of his glass. 

 

By the time he sat upright once more, after stretching his drink-hand's fingers toward the floor - but, then, capriciously giving up - Lex had processed what was being said.

 

"So: bedtime," Luthor concluded.

 

"Exactly," hisClark nodded slowly.

 

"No more Scotch," Luthor verified.

 

"That is correct," came the somber reply, and the three-dimensional holograph made arm gestures that drew Lex away from his seat, which came by way of the floor.

 

"Oof!" he lay there, semi-stunned, and he tried to bring his hand to his jaw, but it kept getting caught between the table legs, so, instead Lex rested his arms on his elbows and peered upward.

 

"Don't supposed you could break out the anti-grav for me anytime soon...?" he asked of hisClark.

 

"I will raise the local temperature wherever you settle yourself," the imago informed, clearly and slowly.  "You may sleep anywhere you like, but you, yourself, have commented repeatedly that you hate waking up on the floor."

 

A sharp bark, then, table and arm tussling again, soon Lex extricated himself and he endeavored to attain balance on his hands and knees. 

 

"Oh," Luthor spoke puckishly, between the little moans and grunts he made, as he made supports of the furniture and staggered to his feet, "so, I Comment Repeatedly, do I?"

 

The imago grinned while paralleling the path of the tottering man, saying "Deny it, if you can," and in this manner hisClark kibitzed his giggling charge into bed.

 

Within the Fortress' central chamber, Kal-El stood, eyes detesting the monitor, abhorring the envy he couldn't block.  A step backward, and he turned and flew off.

 

**

 

As he became aware hours later, Luthor could only focus on the piercing pain throbbing his skull - and then, it was gone.

 

"Ungh, god," he mumbled, as his level of energy rose with each breath, "Why do you always do that?"

 

"Filter impurities upon awakening?" he heard hisClark somewhere, past the foot of his bed.

 

"No," Luthor corrected, "why do you wait until I've felt like fucking living shit for sixty seconds, before you do it?" and he looked highly cranky.

 

The AI interface moved to the side of the bed, "To provide you necessary real-life feedback, because you will not be here, getting hangover cures, forever."

 

Lex snickered a bit as he arose from the dark-gray soft sheets provided him, and his black silk pajama pants twisted low on his hips.  His moon-pale, bare chest and back rippled through a stretch of feline magnificence, his elegant fingertips pointed high, then, released. 

 

Feeling smarty this morning, Luthor tossed-off, "Yeah, well, watch me knock-down your master on that thing, too, and I might be getting out of here sooner than even you can imagine, Horatio."

 

After some more of this self-satisfaction had been tossed about, the three-dimensional holographic interrupted, voicing, "It amazes, that your mind called forth this persona for the interface, given your low regard for its source."

 

"Hey, Clark...wasn't always...an ass," Lex managed to say while he brushed his teeth.

 

When he went to shower, he couldn't avoid his delight at how well he had bested his arch-enemy, and he took his time glorying himself.

 

When still toweling off, he adopted a saunter as he approached his clothing area, "Good to go, one more time," but his light good humor couldn't hide the swell of his chest, the cocky jut of his chin.  As he dressed himself facing the crystal mirror provided him, he soon began voicing his smugness more directly.

 

Adjusting the knot of his tie to his liking, Luthor flicked a glance to inquire with vague concern, "So where's Mister Kicked-To-The-Super-Curb, today?"

 

"Out, saving humans," came hisClark's mild rebuke to Lex's attitude.

 

Large roll of eyes over to the three-dimensional imago, and hisClark's expression was neutral yet closed-off, and there was no answering glint.

 

Looking rather disdainful, Luthor turned to say, face to face, "How predictable of you, to have your master as your own blind spot."

 

With an indulgent smile, the holographic form, displaying young Clark's image, pursued.

 

"Please enlighten me, then."

 

Releasing his face-off, adding a faint roll of his head on his neck as he turned lazily from the clothing area to the refreshment area, Lex laid out: "You have to deal with a master inferior to you…"

 

And he stopped to take a swallow of orange juice he'd grabbed from the matter box.

 

"…and so, you cover for him," he finished.

 

A step to reach nearly-hot 12-grain toast, and Lex grabbed a butter knife as he assembled his breakfast, standing at table.  He looked at hisClark, and went on.

 

"You cover for him: that's the nature of the world."

 

After crunching on a bite, staring at the imago not so far away, he finished.

 

"You cover for him, but are in denial as to his inferiority: that's a blind spot."

 

HisClark then affected a slight crimp to his dark brows as he bent forward from the waist, encouragingly, "I am still unclear."

 

Now disappointed twice in one conversation, Luthor turned snide, "I'm saying, he's a hopeless bull in a china shop ... one he doesn't even belong in, in the first place, by the way," then he gestured with his coffee.

 

"Who couldn't get things right, even with the Chorus of Angels on his side," and now he eyeballed the imago, interested in the fruit of his instigation.

 

Tilting it's head forward ever so slightly, hisClark then meaningfully replied, "So, that's why he allowed me to return to you?"

 

With a steel-blue glare, opposing the boyish squint delivering the hard, silver glint, Luthor placed his coffee mug on the table with a slam. 

 

~~~no feelings~~~no feelings~~~ Lex mantra'd.

 

A second more, to stare, then Luthor whipped his body away and strode to the lab area, "I'm working alone, today."

 

After picking up and examining a crystal or two, Lex's flick of an eye confirmed hisClark's departure. 

 

Throughout that day, Luthor reflected bitterly.

 

~~~so, that's why~~~ in his mind he mimicked a baby-talk version of hisClark's delivery ~~~he's the better man!~~~

 

~~~so, that's why~~~he's so wise!~~~

 

~~~so, that's why, when you're asleep, Mister Luthor, I'm over there, licking my master's dangling balls!~~~

 

After that, Lex thought of other things.

 

 

**

 

Now, Luthor couldn't abide seeing the mockery of his soul standing, just out of reach, at his side.

 

Sullen from it, Lex glided through his days' work in a stiff...professional relationship...with the interface of a boy, of whom he had become...rather fond.

 

At night he burned.

 

One restless, early hour, his twisting caused hisClark to speak up, from across the room, where he appeared, in the gloom of Lex's 'night'.

 

"Your sleep has been poor, lately," hisClark stated.

 

Lex snorted as he pressed his palms against eyes so sore.  He dropped his hands and lay there, grasping the mattress again and again, fiercely.

 

Then, Lex darted up and stood, arms slung out loosely, head low like a viper, and his disregarded black silk sleeping pants were snagged on his semi-hardness, as he faced hisClark down.

 

Luthor could just catch glints, despite the gray dark.

 

~~~still here~~~hasn't fled, yet~~~ Luthor noted as he crept, one advance after another, slowly tacking toward those glints he could see, if he moved his eyes just right.

 

In a moment, he was before him and Lex asked, in a low voice, "What do you register, if you're touched?"

 

A pause of seconds later, hisClark responded, "Photonic variations."

 

"Hm," and Lex let his eyes work slowly downward as the corner of his mouth pulled up, "variations are good."

 

Bringing his face back up to the interface before which he stood, Lex queried, "What do I register, if I touch you?"

 

Lex's sleepless weaving brought him so, so close, but not touching, yet, and he held, through his silk pants, his own hardness flat against himself.

 

Twice the pause, from hisClark.  "Light tingling."

 

Lex began a rough rumble deep in his chest and he barely worked the bow of his mouth, sending just an arrow of hot moisture onto those, full claret lips of shadow that sizzled through quantum space, before him.

 

"Do you feel that," he whispered, so close.

 

"Yes."

 

"Excellent," and Lex preoccupied himself with seeing how...close...his lips could get before his breath became a kiss. 

 

There! He grazed a softly-curved cheek, close enough!

 

"A-ah...!" he fluttered and he licked his lips, only to bring himself back to that mouth.

 

Lex sucked cool air inward, knowing that it flowed over ghostly lips as well. 

 

Then, gently-parted tenderness gifted the tiniest of touches to dark-ruby pillows, and Lex closed his eyes in a shudder of pleasure, at a dream, lived, then bussed once more, before drawing over, near enough to whisper to the imago.

 

"You're torturing me," Lex rasped, and he backed away, his expression turning acrimonious, and he gave a growl as he shook his fisted pants in display, then returned to bed and his fitful sleep.

 

**

 

Softly awakening.  Soft touch, to his cheek.

 

Lying abed, Lex opened his eyes to see - Kal-El.

 

Out of uniform again, but, seated upon the bed, beside Lex, leaning over him, hand stretched toward him.

 

~~~come, to rub my nose!~~~ Luthor's mind raced ~~~that little, AI snitch!~~~

 

"Kal-El!" Luthor growled, as his hand shot up past red flannel to grab that muscled throat, "How dare you invade -!"

 

"I am yourClark!" the...thing...enunciated, then gave its trademark toothy smile of near-Clark dimensions.

 

Luthor dropped his grip as if burned by the contact, and he pushed himself up, to sit.

 

Mouth aghast, Lex patted his hands to confirm the solidity of the body in plaid now sitting beside him on his bed. 

 

Lex leaned forward and asked with a frown, "Kal-El, are you alright?"

 

Then, "Seriously.  I'm concerned...", and Lex took a moment to choose judiciously, among candidate ways of putting it, "...about your mind."

 

Leaning forward, Luthor added, lower-voiced, "Just take me home now, and we'll discuss it at our convenience -"

 

"I've solidified myself," hisClark said, Clark-like voice now emanating, as if real, from its own form, its 'body'. 

 

Spending a moment of close observance, the solid, tangible entity before him, upon analysis, exhibited zero behavioral characteristics of present-day Kal-El.

 

That, and then the AI let its eyes twinkle.

 

"My Clark?" Lex, an octave high, squeaked as he laid two hands upon two solid arms in farm-wear.

 

Grin warm and almost-full-beam, hisClark stood up on its two legs and bade Lex arise for the day.

 

Lex sat back in the bed, sheet puddled over his legs which had flopped-askew, and began questioning, numbly.

 

"Just, um, just what is going on, here?" came first, slowly.

 

Work boots set shoulder-width apart, his hands clasped loosely behind his back, a 'real-boy' hisClark prepared his response with a shocking verisimilitude.

 

HisClark tipped the top of its body forward a bit, and began.

 

"You...need me," was all it said, and left it, at that.

 

With slackened face, Lex just sat there, then requested, "Would you mind if you gave me a little privacy for a while, just while I get used to the notion, if you don't mind, I'm sure you'll understand."

 

"Certainly," came the polite reply, "Just call me," and he disappeared.

 

Alone, Lex melted back down, where 'ere his boneless limbs relaxed him, against headboard and pillows, facing no direction in particular - but no matter, for he was in deep concentration.

 

~~~thank you, God~~~

 

~~~thank you, Tao~~~

 

~~~thank you, Buddha~~~

 

~~~thank you, Muhammad~~~

 

~~~thank you, Jes...

 

...and so on, till his stomach told him it was time for a nourishing brunch.

 

After showering, Lex slipped on a thin, soft robe, dove-gray against his milky-white form.

 

"Come to me," he spoke, as low as his voice was that prior night, calling from the mood, from where they had left-off.

 

Lex turned his head aside and he startled slightly, despite his foreknowledge, for, there, only steps away, was the physical presence of hisClark.

 

"Take off your clothes," Lex whispered, then murmured, "...for me," and the AI-embodiment paused its efficient unbuttoning, a flash in its eye.

 

**

 

~~~licking has never been this good~~~ Lex decided, then nipped the navel.

 

Raising himself on all fours, he threw his body to effect a lunge at hisClark's luscious mouth, to smash loose-hung lips upon his partner's, sliding sloppily, then rough tonguing, then a delicate half-bite, sharing breathe, hot, cold, wet, smeared.

 

~~~never will be this good~~~ a twinge of moroseness tweaked him and he halted, for a  moment. 

 

Lex drew back, resting his elbows on either side of that oak-like trunk, to gaze into that perfect, gentle face. 

 

Always that, in between what he did. 

 

And so they went on, Lex devouring hisClark, until he fell asleep, worshipping the humanoid body.

 

**

 

"We must work," the smiling bed-mate chided, gentle green eyes gazing at the human who smiled back, while Lex's nimble fingers twined curls of bangs.

 

"Another kiss," Luthor insisted.

 

"I know what that means, now," hisClark chuckled.

 

**

 

"Think of your businesses, languishing from...heehee," the boyish entity laughed as Lex tickled him, to avoid deflection of the following full-body attack upon the gorgeous creature.

 

**

 

"Lex..." came the quiet sound through the sift of darkness between them.

 

"I know," Luthor conceded, "we'll work again in the morning," and he made love, as if it was his last time.

 

Once, again.

 

**

 

Over Lex's breakfast, the two sat and spoke.

 

"So," Lex said between munches in answer to his hearty appetite, at which, he noted, the Clark-boy beamed with pleasure, "how do you accomplish it?"

 

"I am not an organism, but a simulacron," hisClark informed.

 

"Yes, yes," Lex went on impatiently, "but how to you project a life-like solid?" and his pale eyes lit up in anticipation.

 

Leaning over to give a kiss, hisClark said, "After we get the energy project done."

 

"Bastard."

 

Lex couldn't decide to be annoyed or laugh, but he ended with a playful cuff at hisClark's shoulder across the table, as he arose, and they set off to address the crystals in the lab area, together, grinning, like old pals.

 

**

 

"WHAT?" came the belling noise from all about.

 

At its echoes in the night, Lex broke apart from his dreams.

 

Bolting upright, blinking, Luthor reached for the gun he kept in his penthouse nightstand, but he caught himself and looked around to process his present placement.

 

~~~my Arctic cage~~~ Luthor remembered resentfully.

 

Taking one second to stare around at the dark gray, receiving no clue - nothing looked different from any other sleep period.

 

Then: at the sharp, frightful report of the huge crack that came next, causing all the Fortress to groan from the rocking strain, Lex whipped his head down in a hunker, hunched down in his bed, face scrunched and hands pressed hard to his ears.

 

When able, Luthor whipped up, to scream, "My Clark!" through the terrifying belling, upward, through the 'night'-darkened gray, upward, through the coat of snow now melting upon his face and tongue, dislodged from above and settled in a moment upon all, such as him, below.

 

"YourClark is here, Lex," and warm arms were around him, in comfort.

 

"What the fuck is happening?" Luthor screamed, ears worthless, as he hopped to his knees, ready to evacuate.

 

"Kal-El returned...then left again," hisClark simplified, Lex lip-reading it, more than anything. 

 

Continuing, hisClark explained, "It was his sonic boom, that shook the Fortress."

 

In his semi-hysterical relief, Lex laughed a harsh caw, until he saw the slight melancholy hisClark wore.

 

Lex sobered, "Oh," and he slumped his arms around hisClark until he drew them downward, pulling aside his sodden coverlet.

 

~~~one more 'last time'~~~ Luthor thought as his brows pinched together.

 

**

 

"Tell me," Luthor whispered as the morning-light began, he and hisClark, still abed.

 

HisClark replied, "Kal-El is allowing me to continue."

 

Lex closed his eyes, then brought his hands together in a victory clap.  Once. 

 

Held them there, in the air, above his chest.  Then he let them drop as he considered the...scene...the three of them now shared.

 

"Because...?" Lex asked, turning to face him, catching the silver glint as the mossy green turned to agate with the morn, and hisClark returned the frank gaze.

 

"Because," the simulacron of boyish Clark said, "he understands."

 

After a minute, Lex sank back onto his pillow and puffed out, "Wow."

 

**

 

As Luthor and the simulacron worked together amid the data crystals that day, he was pensive and they spoke lightly, but not overmuch.

 

That night, before they retired, he asked hisClark, "Is he still here?"

 

"Yes."

 

Frowning faintly, Lex spoke quietly, eye-to-eye, "Are we ever private?"

 

"Kal-El evinced not the least desire to invade our privacy," hisClark informed, which made Luthor snap-to.

 

"Yes, of course," Lex shook himself together.  Then he rolled his eyes over the rim of his drink.

 

"Naturally!" and he laughed at the glint accompanying hisClark's answering grin.

 

**

 

Time passed, and still Kal-El remained. 

 

He stood at his crystal command console and watched Lex and the Kryptonian abomination, constantly, as they worked together. 

 

He had returned from his furious departure with close to a ton of coal, and diamonds had since littered the floor of his chamber, except where he'd ground them into dust upon the harder surface of the Fortress floor.

 

The AI communicated with him, even while the part of it comprising hisClark still interacted with Luthor in the lab area.

 

"It would be less painful for you, if you left, Kal-El," the AI suggested.

 

Working his jaw before releasing a response, "And be chased out of my own home, AI?" and he addressed it with a sour tone.

 

"I could let you feel what you obsess about, and in doing so, perhaps it will free -" but the AI was talked over by Kal-El.

 

Blushing uncomfortably, Kal-El raised his voice, "I told you, I'm not doing that!  And, don't offer that to me, again!" at which the AI silenced.

 

**

 

More time, and now Kal-El lay abed in the soft dusk of his sleeping chamber, a single mile from where his thoughts lay.  His blue plaid terry robe still wrapped around him where he had fallen after his disappointing shower, one foot up, one on the floor, and he slung his hand over his shamed face.

 

"Let me feel it, AI" he commanded, into the dark.

 

"I suggest you disrobe, Kal-El," came the prompt.

 

Within a second, he laid upon his bed, centered, now bereft of robe as well as entangling sheets, just the large, soft, smooth expanse encircling him, and he settled his brawny body upon its back.

 

After fluttering breaths, during which he reconsidered many times, he finally exhaled, "Now."

 

"AAAAHhh!" he snapped into the position the simulacron held, in bed at the other end of the hall, with Lex:  head back against the pillow as its back arched hard, legs akimbo, and Kal-El possessed the feeling of Lex's mouth working, between.

 

On Lex's plateau, hisClark closed its eyelids and uttered, "Ah-h!", a first, and Lex looked up sharply, relating it to whatever his tongue had just succeeded in doing.

 

Lex reached to cup and give a jangle, too, which was rewarded by, "ngh...god!"

 

~~~even artificial intelligence creates a diety?~~~ Lex was surprised but forgot to ponder it, instead locking onto the intensity of the silver glint flickering in and out of those eyes so green.

 

And it went on like this, with an astounded Luthor working for even more realistic reactions from his partner.

 

~~~christ, what makes this time different?~~~ Lex wondered, casting his brain about for anything unusual about that day, what he'd eaten, how long they'd worked.

 

~~~the thing said, it wasn't able to orgasm~~~ Luthor remembered ~~~but, could it?~~~

 

A chance at the sexual challenge of his life, Lex drove on and sought the mountain-top for hisClark.

 

This, while Kal-El was trying to pull back. 

 

Viewed from his chamber, upon his bed, Kal-El was one hand clapping.  But, Kal-El's view from the simulacron's eyes brought him front-row, and he urgently felt out of his depth.

 

~~~this wasn't~~~what I thought~~~ Kal-El managed to send the AI mentally. 

 

At the AI's lack of response, Kal-El projected ~~~I'm not in control~~~ with the beginnings of slight panic.

 

"Oh...oh...oh..." he tried to restrain the sounds the sensations freed from him and, back on his bed, he bit his lip.

 

Seeing the simulacron moaning and biting its lip, Luthor went into a frenzy to bring it home for him.

 

The AI took that time to retreat fully, letting Kal-El's sensibilities completely saturate the three-dimensional form.

 

The simulacron's eyes gave a startled look.

 

Luthor paused a millisecond, before disregarding what he'd just seen: a wild-eyed look hisClark had never given before, but which certainly reminded him of someone.

 

~~~no, no~~~that's just~~~that's just because, I'm blowing its little, AI-mind~~~ Lex encouraged himself. 

 

Yet, he couldn't quite let it go.

 

Even more intent on watching, now, Lex drew back to commandeer the being's groin, and he lined up and moved within, in a slow transition, reclaiming territory previously won -

 

- evidently, right before Kal-El's drop-in, for the feel of it drove Kal-El mad, and his will splayed its legs to set its feet upon Lex's bed, lifting Lex off his knees, just to hit that right spot, it was right there, and it gasped aloud.

 

Lex answered the call, jack-hammering that indicated spot.

 

Leaving his notions to plait together ~~~I never have seen them both together~~~the solid one, and Kal-el~~~

 

Luthor gave one particularly good thrust, smack on the tender-sore spot that rules a body when touched.

 

Shocked, himself, now, Lex beheld the startling result: the truly alarmed look - of the real article.

 

~~~how the fuck could that be, though?~~~ as he hopped the being's groin upon his sharp prong, and he still debated it.

 

Leaning over in the zenith of his next upstroke, Lex took the time to examine the eyes closer - searching the complex iris colors for the smooth, cool glint, always, all the time, of every time before, with hisClark.

 

Instead he saw lust.

 

Thick lust, displaced by anxiety, struggling with self-control.

 

~~~Kal-El?~~~ Lex frowned, wondering and coming to a halt.

 

~~~how?~~~ Luthor bothered to think, before he stopped caring.

 

Luthor withdrew, then caught up the body below him in a rough embrace and dragged them both over to the edge, and tipped them to the rug below.

 

The simulacron-cum-Kal-El had landed on its butt, then looked to Lex, mouth open and panting.

 

Giving no time for thought, Lex sat next to him, then worked his way under him, then into him once more, from underneath.

 

A mile away, on own his bed, Kal-El whimpered as he lolled his neck for Luthor's predation, of which Luthor, in his chamber, partook, while vigorously working the spooned body bouncing on his half-lap, his own arm stabilizing himself against the floor, as he sat upon a hip and wiry thigh.

 

Luthor's mouth hung open and he made his long tongue hard, jamming little dips into the being's neck, intended for Kal-El, a soft erotic.

 

Reaching to grab the jaw before him and tug it to his hard kiss, Lex then dropped his grasp and ordered, "Come for me, now…Kal-El!"

 

~~~they are Kal-El's eyes~~~ Lex perceived with vindication, for they had flown open horrifically wide.

 

Lex commanded himself ~~~Jump on it!~~~ and he grasped the thick log low on hisClark's belly, and gazed into the simulacron's eyes, to reach Kal-El.

 

Lex grunted each of his ram-slams harder now, and he ran his slickened ring of fingers back and forth, round and round, just below the plump head of hisClark's hardness.

 

As they toiled there - the simulacron splayed upon its back, Lex spearing it from beneath - Lex peered down to eyes so close and husked, "I know it's you!" to test, to see the response.

 

But, Kal-El, almost past caring, being bounced without mercy, moaned, "L-e-ex.....", simulacron-face looking shocked at the saying of it.

 

There was just something about it, how it was said...

 

Lex looked down and saw...

 

"I knew it..." Lex exulted in a victory whisper, then he dropped a sweet, lingering kiss of pure happiness on that fretted brow.

 

Reaching with assurance, now, Luthor thrumbed his hand around his fantasy's thick spear as he grasped it, fingers laying down a jagged tattoo, vibrating it with commanding urgency.

 

"Now, Kal-El!" Lex gave a dry croak, "Show me how I make you feel!"

 

And, with that, Lex could hear Kal-El in stereo, one great shout below him, one echoing from so far away, down the long distance of the great, icy hall.

 

**

 

Seated, later, within Lex's living area, Lex chatted with hisClark - himself, once more, for Kal-El's dazed consciousness had disappeared from the simulacron as Luthor bestowed a final kiss.

 

"While I have small reason," Lex opened, "to look at all that magnificent gift horse flesh in the mouth..." and they shared a glance, "even as beneficiary, I am completely disturbed, by what can only be called, AI high-jinks."

 

Delighted, hisClark said, "I like that one," then repeated, "'AI high-jinks'," much to Luthor's consternation.

 

"Are you listening to me?" and huge resentment blossomed at this disregard, but then hisClark was back on track.

 

"I apologize, Mister Luthor," hisClark said, with a nod, "truly," then explained, "I was indulging myself for a moment, and I'm afraid I've unintentionally insulted you."

 

Mollified, for the nonce, Lex adjusted his suit jacket, took another sip of coffee.

 

"I'm saying," Lex returned to his topic, "that this is the second time your non-idle curiosity is yanking my chain, and -"

 

Interrupting, hisClark said, "Perhaps you will develop more compassion for young Clark's state of upset, at your own probing, when he was less than half your present age."

 

"Oh," Lex said to his next sip, "you're a real cheerleader for your boy."

 

"Not to mention," hisClark went on, "all the mutants at your disposal, collected under the earth..."

 

"I'm saying," Lex pressed on, "that I know you've got some bullshit plan you're working out and I'm pretty pissed-off about it."

 

"Would you like to switch to manual interface?" hisClark, imperturbable, offered.  "You certainly know enough data crystal technique, now -"

 

"Oh, shut the fuck up," Luthor conceded, disgusted with it, and with himself.

 

He arose and held his wrists out briefly, announcing, "Alright, Master, slip on those chains of love, and let's get to work," then he sauntered to the lab area once more.

 

**

 

Side by side, data exchanged, lab work done for the day, hisClark and Luthor now sat opposing, over a low table, and spoke.

 

"How did you explain your lapse?" Luthor inquired.

 

"I told him, the control was delicate," came the reply.

 

Luthor's jaw slacked, "You shitted him?"

 

"The control is delicate...to do what needs to be done," and the eyes shone, across from him.

 

"'What needs to be -'?" Lex halted, then leaned forward in an intense, piercing stare, pinning the silver sliver to those agate eyes.

 

"What part about my getting Kal-El off, needed to be done?"

 

Came the even reply, "You seek release, to remain stable; I maximized it."

 

"Maximized it?" Luthor opened his eyes wide, "You think that super-piss-ant -"

 

"- is your ultimate desire, yes," the interface in plaid spoke it, softly.

 

Luthor choked back his knee-jerk to that, as his brain informed him ~~~it's true~~~ and thus, denial would look like blustering.

 

Instead, his unguarded thoughts slipped straight through to his face, rare as that was, and indignity reigned alongside a somewhat licentious look. 

 

Instantly aware of this self-betrayal, Luthor bared his gritted teeth at those glinting eyes embedded in that charming face, and he swirled away toward far reaches of his mesa, snagging his glass and decanter along the way.

 

HisClark stood waiting as it viewed Lex's stalking departure. 

 

When Lex was small in the gray distance, he yelled back, "And, there had better be a Sulking Area...at the far edge of this fucking golf-tee I live on...by the time I fucking get there!"

 

**

 

A few hours later, Lex was humming, now and then, a bit of opera he was thinking about, enjoying, as he was, his new Sulking Area.

 

"Are you ready to work now, Mister Luthor," hisClark appeared to ask, formality called for after the spat.

 

It caught a grin from Lex.

 

"Only after you have a drink with me," Luthor said, as he began a slow pantomime of removing the crystal-chunk stopper from the angular decanter, then lifting it over to the table, waiting for there to appear a glass, and...

 

...hisClark grabbed a fresh glass and made it under the flow just in time.

 

"What an ally you would make, AI" Lex approved and he poured just a dash, a token for the simulacron, and they toasted.

 

"I am your ally, Lex," hisClark smiled as he his interlocked fingers loosely held the symbolic drink before him as he sat down opposite Luthor.

 

Lex corrected, "I meant, out there, in the real world."

 

Before responding, the smiling hisClark's eyes seemed simply merry.

 

Luthor looked deeper into those green eyes and halted the drink half-way to his lips. 

 

~~~they're like fireworks, now!~~~ Lex marveled, because instead of one glint, so many, many now sparkled and flashed, all within the orbed worlds of hisClark's eyes. 

 

The coruscating ring of diamond was so...

 

~~~enchanting!~~~ Luthor felt.

 

HisClark clearly enunciated, "Oh, you will need Kal-El, for that."

 

Lex was still in a bit of awe, then the flash all resolved back to the single, regular glint, but he was left in a muse.

 

"Huh?" he asked for what he had missed, finishing his sip from the drink he held.

 

"I said," his Clark declared distinctly, "'Lex, you will need Kal-El, out in the world, as your ally'."

 

Lex Luthor stared across the low table of crystal slab, at the beautiful, boyish face hiding the master with which he played.

 

"You're a real piece of work, AI," Luthor saluted flatly and he knocked the rest of his Scotch back, clanking the glass onto the table as he stood briskly, smoothing himself with slight, deft motions.

 

Await me in the lab area," he ordered.  "And," he added, forestalling with arm raised for a second, "for the record," he clearly enunciated, "'Fuck You'," and then he gave the hand-flick, for his wish to be carried out.

 

HisClark stood as well and gave a slight bow, meeting Luthor's eyes boldly, before complying.

 

**

 

~~~excellent! excellent! excellent!~~~ Luthor exulted at the data crystal, and hisClark grinned, as well, at the advance in their work it signified.

 

Hunched over the work bench, Lex thought ~~~now I can get out of this Sin-Bin-of-the-Alien-Body-and-Mind-Meld~~~

 

Clink, went a data crystal.

 

~~~and I can get back, to home territory~~~ Lex griped to himself.

 

Clank.

 

~~~and I can go back, to knowing what the living fuck is going on~~~at any given time~~~

 

Luthor's thoughts were interrupted.

 

 HisClark, working beside him, stand stock straight and stare into space ahead of him.

 

"Kal-El is sustaining damage!" hisClark blurted, then was gone.

 

~~~christ, doesn't this guy have a more interesting method of instilling in me strong protective feelings for poor Kal-El, getting all hurt, out in the big, bad, world, ya-ta, ya-ta, ya-ta~~~ Lex smirked to himself as he made a point of continuing his work, unfazed.

 

~~~oh, Kent-Boy!~~~ Luthor amused himself ~~~I actually do recall your last point~~~that your master and I ought to be Real Buddies~~~

 

He moved the crystals a bit harder, bringing out ringing tones as they clanked together, as he developed his annoyance.

 

~~~just like we used to be!~~~

 

Clink.

 

~~~out there in the good, ol', Real World!~~~

 

Clatter.

 

~~~where I have a life!~~~

 

Clunk-clunk.

 

~~~and where I belong!~~~

 

But, as the day proceeded, and hisClark had failed to return, Lex simply downed a drink and put himself to bed.

 

**

 

Fourteen periods of sleep later and work long abandoned, Lex was stretched out on his divan, staring unfocused eyes up into the diffuse lighting.

 

HisClark still hadn't returned.  Luthor's throat was sore from screaming for someone, anyone - maybe another interface was around there.  But, methodical, Lex nonetheless spent a minute screaming, at the top of every waking hour.

 

When hisClark suddenly reappeared and began walking toward him, Luthor sucked in a lungful to blast him hard.

 

But Lex was stopped by that face, by those changed eyes.

 

The diamond scintillation had returned.  But Luthor had to turn aside, for the small rings of laser fire within the simulacron's eyes were too bright to behold.

 

"You are needed, Lex," the AI interface spoke, its eyes like eclipsed white suns.

 

Luthor lifted a plate of food from the low table and threw it at hisClark's form, and squawked at him.

 

"I told you," Lex croaked, "I...am not going to fall... for your bullshit, anymore!"

 

Ignoring the emotional display, AI-hisClark began prepping Luthor.

 

"Kal-El is located roughly a kilometer under Earth's mantle, as we speak, being crushed between subduction zones."

 

"Wha...?!" Lex couldn't contain his broken screech of shock.

 

Then, "You're lying to me!" he immediately snarled.

 

HisClark's steady summary continued, "He feels a strong source of Kryptonite near him, but his strength is sapped enough that he is unable to move the crust aside, to free himself."

 

~~~Kal-El!~~~ Lex's heart went out to him, as, despite himself, he imagined it.

 

Facing hisClark, Luthor stood and shielded his squinted eyes with spread fingers as he stared straight into those bright stars.

 

"Swear to me!" he ordered, adding, "Swear to me, you're not manipulating any of this!"

 

"I, Kal-El's life-line to his home world, swear to you by Mother Krypton, Lex Luthor" came the steady reply, as a pulse by the eyes lightened the glimmer around them.

 

It wasn't what he'd wanted to hear.  Luthor's face turned grim.

 

"How can I help him?" he whispered.

 

The AI-hisClark with scintillated eyes continued, "You need to communicate with Kal-El, with my help."

 

"How will that help Kal-El?" Lex frowned.

 

"You will give him strength," the AI said through hisClark's lips.

 

"That's it?" Luthor squawked.  "No Grand Plan? No Master Mind-work?  No brilliance?"

 

"It's what he needs, Lex" came the response.

 

"What… 'give him strength', like I'm some friend, or something?" Lex floundered.

 

"He loves you," AI-hisClark's lips moved to say, and it snapped Lex back to his earlier suspicion.

 

"So, that's the payoff, is it?" Luthor enunciated coldly, his expression closing off fast as he arrived at conclusions.

 

"This whole charade...to get me to hear that Kal-El's got the alien-wuv hard for me?"

 

Luthor declared, "Now that I know I can't trust anything you say to me, A-fucking-I, he spat, "you can just forget getting any more Nobel busy-work out of me -"

 

"I swore to you, Lex, and I will swear again: this is real."

 

Luthor assessed him closely, regarding the form's demeanor, taking in the more human-friendly, modulated glitter of the eyes, into which he looked deeply, now.

 

"If this is such an emergency, why did you wait fourteen days to come fetch my 'Gift of Love' for Kal-El?"

 

"When Kal-El first brought you," came the immediate reply, "before he touched down, he spun you within the safety of his cape, effectively reduplicating his own Super-speed, but, for you, while within this structure, which supports such time warping."

 

Luthor's expression hardened, seeing ahead. 

 

"Therefore," the AI-simulacron explained, "your perceived time, here, has not been the same as in the world.  The elapsed Real Time since yourClark abandoned you, has been but moments."

 

Lips pursed in anger, Luthor snipped pointedly, "So, my 'industries haven't been languishing'?" as he discovered another level of deceit.

 

"No, the elapsed real-time of your absence to date is roughly sixteen hours," the AI-hisClark informed.

 

Eyebrows raised, then lowered over a mean look, "So, nine weeks of Barren-Ice-Floe, for me, was just enough time for Super Forked-Tongue to dip out and catch a pizza, is that correct?"

 

The AI's set of the mouth did all the answering Luthor needed.

 

After Lex finished upsetting the low table, heaving the divan onto its side, and throwing every loose object into the distance, just to wait to hear it crash, he then faced hisClark's form and spoke to the AI.

 

"How do I do it?" Lex asked vehemently.

 

AI-hisClark paused, "You need to make sure the interface is positive, Lex."

 

"Surely," Luthor glared, "you can tell, from this face: I want him alive."

 

**

 

"And, this will be accomplished, how?" Luthor inquired as he finally reached his living area, and he watched as hisClark climbed up immediately, to settle itself on Lex's bed, then close its eyes and become vacant.  The AI spoke once more from above.

 

"I am within Kal-El's mind at all times.  I will bring that awareness into this form, much as I did the other evening, taking Kal-El's mind into bed with you, as you made love to yourClark's body."

 

The AI continued, "Kal-El will be able to hear it, maybe even see you, if he is still capable of Super-speeding his thoughts."

 

"Yeah, well," Lex remarked as he toed off his dress shoes and took off his jacket, loosening his tie, "that's always been debatable."

 

He even took a relaxing breath, then sent it out with a laughing snort.

 

~~~ I, Alexander J. Luthor of Earth, come in peace~~~and love~~~O! Kal-El, Child of Krypton~~~

 

"Are you ready?" the AI asked of Luthor.

 

"Fire away," Lex said shortly.

 

The AI began the process of sharing Kal-El's consciousness with HisClark's body, taking it slowly.  Soon, the simulacron began assuming a drastically different position, one closest to what Kal-El himself was in, under miles of dirt, remote from that room.

 

Arms pulled out far to his sides, with clenched, spasmed hands; legs lifted to bend, slightly, to skew, then align oddly.  Though the body was limp, it seemed pinned in place, like a strong butterfly harnessed by stronger collector.

 

Those green-irised orbs hidden by eyes clenched shut, for the moment, the boyish lips of the simulacron murmured without sense, a mumbling incoherence direct from Kal-El himself, below Earth's crust, vastly far away, real time, right now.

 

Approaching the form on his bed, Luthor found himself reacting viscerally to the enormity of it all.

 

He knelt upon the rug at Kal-El's right side, to face those closed eyes, to face the head that was held knocked-back, so sharply. 

 

Hands upon the bed, and Lex leaned forward, to call, "Kal-El."

 

The mumbling from those loose, full lips stopped.  Luthor repeated.

 

"L-Lesh?" those boyish lips enunciated, with some effort.

 

"This is Lex, Kal-El" Lex answered, and then Luthor was mildly horrified, for Kal-El's response was sobbed. 

 

"Lesh...Lesh...Lesh...Lesh...!"

 

Only the right eye of AI-hisClark's flipped open, now, the other shut tight, but it was Kal-El's agate green that showed Lex the terrified, pinched expression accompanying the dirge of his name.

 

"I'm here, Kal-El," Lex rushed to take charge, "Now, listen, I want you to -"

 

"Lex!" Kal-El worked his mouth, and he tried to wail but it pressed out as a loud whine, "'m dying...'m dying...'m dying," and then there broke the most piteous weeping, escaping, somehow, from that semi-opened, clenched jaw.

 

Still kneeling, leaned forward on his elbows, Luthor drew back slightly, in faint disgust.

 

~~~will you look at Mister Better-Than-Human, break down like a fucking little baby!~~~

 

"Uh, yeah," Lex dismissed, then, "Listen up, Kal-El!  I'm here to help you, uh, figure your way out of this," and he looked off in the distance as his head gave a little swagger.

 

~~~'I got a boo-boo, Wexy!'~~~ Luthor's mind played.

 

"No, Lex!" the green gaze was urgent, "I can't move!"

 

"First off, Kal-El, explain your conditions," Luthor smirked, "as precisely as you can manage, and we'll -"

 

Brows tried to fret, with the anguished answer, "It's so hot..."

 

Then, "Lex, it's so hot..." then he drifted into mumbled repeat, "so...hot..."

 

"AI!" Luthor spoke sharply as he began a frown, "Estimate Kal-El's external temperature conditions."

 

"Approximately 1500 degrees Celsius / 2800 hundred degrees Fahrenheit," came the voice from above.  Luthor was stunned.

 

"Hot enough to melt iron," he muttered darkly. 

 

He spoke to the form, "Kal-El, just how weakened, by the purported meteor rock presence, are you?"

 

Elevating his mumble to speech with more success, now, Kal-El-hisClark's twisted form upon the bed, tumbled out, emotionally, "Oh, it's so hot, Lex!...and I can't move...and I've already lost two fingers, and -"

 

"What was that?" Luthor demanded clarification, "Say that again."

 

But Kal-El was droning on, monotonic, "I think it's the closest part of me to the Kryptonite...I think it's Kryptonite...I dunno what else...it feels like it...it's awful, Lex," Kal-El's choking voice confided before it dribbled into, "...it hurts... it hurts so bad, Lex... oh, it hurts..." and then became a bewildered, child-like cry.

 

Luthor became unsettled and he rubbed his hand slowly over his bare scalp, taking a few breaths. 

 

Getting back on-task, Luthor hailed, "Kal-El!"

 

The crying abated, "m-Wha-?"

 

"Kal-El, can you tell me what happened to your hand?" Lex walked him through.

 

Came the shaky voice, "I can't move... all this shark rock is grinding me... every breath is hot gas and my skin..." and Luthor heard Kal-El gulp, "my skin is charred..."

 

Lex paled.

 

Kal-El finished weakly, "...um, black."

 

~~~that golden expanse of flawless~~~ Luthor remembered, then opened his ears, closed his eyes and shut off his heart, to attend to what Kal-El said.

 

"...I lost my left eye when my skull starting getting crushed..."

 

~~~Holy Fucking Shit~~~ Lex gasped, but bit back the sound, to follow Kal-El more sharply.

 

"...but, the other eye still works - I can 'see' you, Lex!  Back here, though, I'm kinda looking at where my right arm is, you know, caught...where I was trying to stabilize the fault... from down here...and, um..." then Kal-El drifted.

 

Back at bedside, the AI's voice from above informed, "Kal-El has passed out from the exertion of communication."

 

"Well, get him back on!" Luthor yelled, seeing the suddenly relaxed, natural fall of the simulacron's limbs.  As Kal-El was within no more, the form lay dormant until needed once again.

 

"You and I must wait rather a while, Lex, for Kal-El to receive even a moment's rest, before resumption is wise," the AI's voice reminded gently, from above, "because he remains in Real Time, while you remain, yet, sped up."

 

"Shit!" Luthor exclaimed, then addressed the AI.

 

"We have to get him out before he bleeds to death.  Are you able to determine the location of the presumed meteorite, relative to him?"

 

"I have no remote sensors possessing that level of acuity at such a depth within the Earth," came the feared reply.

 

"What do you imagine our timeline is?" Luthor inquired of the AI.

 

"Unknown," came the voice, adding, "If the fingers were crushed, then he has a greater chance of bleeding out, than if they had been pinched separate, but, if there is a meteor rock, then his strength will lessen over time due to exposure to the radiation, and his stamina will sap, over time, from lack of sunlight."

 

"My thoughts, exactly," Lex concurred.  "He has to free himself now, before he weakens any further."  A flash of memory passed through Lex.

 

~~~naked with hisClark~~~tenderly lifting that sweet left hand~~~fingertip to fingertip~~~tongue, kiss, lips~~~

 

Jumping up, Luthor stalked over to his matter box and returned with a fresh decanter and a bucket of ice, and removed a fresh crystal glass from his jacket pocket. 

 

He made another trip then set a plate of cheese and crackers, and a carafe of clear water, on his desk.

 

Lex climbed up and set himself down on the bed, Scotch in hand and back to the headboard, and began a vigil over the reclined form that lay vacant, so close to his crossed legs.

 

 

**

 

"You may proceed, now, Lex," the AI's voice from above informed, some two hours later.

 

Flinging an exasperated hand in the air, shirt-sleeves rolled up, pulling his drink from his lips earlier than planned, "Finally!" Lex exploded in relief as he scooted down to kneel, bedside once more.

 

Pendant over the sheets, Lex waited - waited for Kal-El to return to the simulacron he stared at.

 

Immediately upon seeing the lovely, boyish face of hisClark, instead resume the rictus of agony the Kryptonian wore right now, Lex spoke out, "Kal-El!"

 

"ng?" Kal-El's voice came forth, lilting now, "Oh, that's right...I forgot...I could do that with my mind...and hear you..."

 

The small pull of his lips, to create what smile he could, was hideous to Lex.

 

Lex felt his insides quake, and he grit his teeth, and he bore ever onward.

 

"Kal-...Kal-El," Lex said, but first he took a fortifying breath, then, "Kal-El, tell me about your damaged hand - do you think you are bleeding?"

 

Came the answer, "M' left arm's on the other side, Lex."

 

"I know, I know," Lex prompted, "just tell me how it feels."

 

"M' left arm is...is, just awful, Lex...the pain..." he strove not to let his voice be small.

 

"Tell me about your fingers," Luthor pushed.

 

"I dunno...I dunno..." Kal-El evaded.

 

"Kal-El, I need to hear it," Lex said firmly, "in order to help you."

 

Finally Lex heard a high-pitched whine settle into the words, "I...just felt them -"

 

"What, Kal-El?" Lex insisted, agitated at the demands upon his patience, "What did you feel, Kal-El?" and he stood now, hands flat upon the bed top, leaning over hisClark's twisted form.

 

Eyes still closed, a sob, then, "The last time the rock moved, I just felt them...leave my hand," and Kal-El, just hearing his own acknowledgment, sent himself into a string of cries, little sucks of breath drawn in, as his jaws would admit.

 

"Are you bleeding from your hand, Kal-El?" Luthor asked.

 

"I dunno...I dunno...I guess...I dunno..." and Kal-El's voice shook.

 

"Well, christ, Kal-el, you have to find that out, or you'll bleed to death, just from that," Lex said with exasperation he failed to keep from his tone.

 

"I know...I know..." Kal-El said in a faint sing-song.

 

"So.....do it!" Lex, nearly frantic from his enforced wait, and he gestured with upraised arms.

 

"I know," he sniffed, "...Lex!" came the waspish reply.  "I'm not too stupid...to know about cauterizing...ya know..." he flung, and Lex felt a flame of shame, which he covered.

 

"I am formally apologizing for all the asshole shit I've said to you, Kal-El," Luthor announced, "this is a blanket apology, take it or leave it," and he adopted a grin to make the delivery sound light-hearted, struggling, to make it light-hearted.

 

Luthor heard Kal-El swallow then manage one chuckle.

 

Urging gently, Lex requested, "I want you to try moving the left hand, the one that's hurt, to test it."

 

The response was the catch of a weepy throat.

 

"I can't move anything, Lex; I've tried!" Kal-El divulged, harshly.  Then, he added, almost dreamily, "I've tried with every atom of my...super-powered muscles... and I'm still going to die,"

 

"Kal-El," Lex insisted, "I will not let you die, now, stop saying that!"

 

"No...no, trust me on this, Lex," came the words, "I wanna die."

 

"Say that again?" Luthor had to hear it.

 

"I want to die, Lex," Kal-El said.

 

"What the fuck are you talking about, Kal-El?" Luthor yelled, "You're just going to - give up?"

 

~~~and, you call yourself a hero?~~~ the Luthor in him couldn't help from thinking.

 

"I want to bleed out...die...sleep..." Kal-El murmured, then added the soft statement, "It'll be okay, Lex," and he became quiet.

 

Looking upward, Lex barked, "AI, why the fuck is he saying he wants to die?"

 

The voice answered, "Kal-El comprehends that, if he does not die swiftly, then the most probable outcome of his circumstance..."

 

"Is, what?" Lex urged.

 

"Natural life for Kal-El, trapped where he is, but not bleeding, could run for years, until his vitality failed, for lack of exposure to Sol's yellow rays.

 

Lex's skin crawled.

 

He looked at the spasmed form upon the bed.

 

He looked at that squinted, lost eye, that sharp misalignment of jaw...

 

Kal-El, shown via the simulacron, lifted his good eye's lid.

 

"I give you my Fortress, Lex."  Kal-El sounded groggier. 

 

"I don't want your fucking Fortress, Kal-El," Lex volleyed, just to get a grip on his emotions again.  This was getting too deep, too fast.

 

That little twist of a smile again, and Lex had to look away.

 

"Yes," Kal-El said, "you do," and Lex looked back to see that soft, green look trained on him.

 

Nothing was said for a moment.

 

"I love you, Lex" Kal-El whispered.

 

"NO!" Luthor commanded, "You're not staying there, you're coming back, do you understand me?" 

 

Leaning forward, Lex added, softer, "You're coming back, to me, Kal-El."

 

"I...can't...have you anyway...Lex..." Kal-El's voice was beginning to slur.  "The AI took you, remember?"

 

Lex choked.

 

Luthor cleared his throat, then started, "That -"

 

Pursing his lips, Luthor went on, "That wasn't real, Kal-El - that...that was play."

 

Kal-El grew mournful again and Lex had to speak over his sad crooning.

 

"Kal-El," Lex laid out, "That was an alien, artificial entity ...utilizing a gorgeous body and amenable persona... perfectly engineered to lure me... just so that said artificial entity could get a little taste. of what makes the world go 'round, okay?"

 

"Bull...shit..." Kal-El accused, "you're just making it worse, Lex...stop it, please, stop it...it hurts too much to hear you do this...please...please, stop..." and a hiccupped whine took over.

 

~~~I've gotten emotional, and he's dying~~~ Lex reprimanded himself.

 

"Okay, Kal-El, hey!" Luthor took over again, "I'm going to run a quick experiment, to help determine the relative location of your source of Kryptonite radiation."

 

"...huh...?" came the reply.

 

Sweeping to the other side of the bed, Lex spoke loudly, "When I touch the simulacron, try to isolate just the pain from the meteor rock, Kal-El."

 

 He pressed his finger gingerly to the simulacron's left shoulder, "Does this hurt, like the meteor rock does, Kal-El?"

 

"...yes..." came the whimpered reply.

 

"Alright, this is our baseline," Lex said as he reached down to hisClark's waist and pressed upon the red flannel there, above the hip.  "Does that hurt, like the meteor rock, now?"

 

"Yes," Kal-El answered, getting the idea, "less...it's hurts less."

 

"Thank god," Lex blurted out, then to confirm his hopes, he went to press hisClark's left knee,

 

"How does -" but as a shrill cry filled the room, he snapped his hand back.

 

"It's crushed, it's crushed, don't touch it, don't touch it!" Kal-El beseeched.

 

Lex swallowed his thumping heart.  Then he queried, "May I touch your shin?"

 

"...y-es..." and Lex could hear the tremble still.

 

With care, Luthor's yet-unsteady hand touched hisClark's lower-leg through his jeans, and heard, "No...that's no meteor-feel, there."

 

Relief upon his face, Lex then slowly approached the damaged hand.  He noted that the palm was to the bed, positioning the thumb downward, pointing towards the leg Luthor had just tested - toward the section with low radiation.

 

~~~well, if he can't regenerate, then at least he'll have his thumb with the other two~~~ Lex observed, detached, clinical, to do this well.

 

He drew a breath, just the same, before progressing.

 

"Kal-El," he asked, "could you tell me which fingers you think are...gone?"

 

"...pinky...n' the other..." came the answer.

 

"Good!" Lex muttered, "those are the ones pointing upward."

 

"Kal-El," Luthor announced, "I suspect the rock is to your left, and up, rather than down.  Now, I'm going to touch the top of your head, to confirm, okay?"

 

"...u-huh...okay..." Kal-El agreed hesitantly, then, "…gentle?...Please?"

 

~~~his said his skull was crushed~~~ Lex recalled, then explained, "I'm sorry, Kal-El, I'll be gentle, right at the top, okay, but it's the highest point on your body, and..."

 

"...s'okay...go ahead..."

 

Faint touch - a whimper.  "Does that hurt... like the meteor rock?" Lex reminded.

 

"No, no, not...not...that kind of pain..." and Lex shuddered, for him.

 

Clasping and working his hands together, Lex hardened his spirit.

 

~~~stay present~~~ Lex commanded himself.

 

"Kal-El, I want to ask you, have you tried moving yourself in a downward direction?"

 

Only a whine, in response, escaped those contorted, lush lips.

 

Then, "Lex, you must...just think...I am so... fucking...dumb..."

 

"Kal-El, -"

 

Hurt bringing strength, the voice from the simulacron continued, "Oh, gosh...I never thought of trying in that direction..."

 

"Kal-El."

 

"...Mister Alexander Genius Luthor, thank you so much, and now I'll just be going on my way -"

 

"Stop it!" Luthor yelled.

 

"- so you can go back to your Luthor life, so you can come up with more genius ways to fucking kill me, thank you so very much for saving me, -"

 

"Alright!" Luthor snapped.

 

"Christ, Kal-El!" he continued, "I'm trying to be fucking... Doctor Gregory House, here... via alien...3-D... fucking short-wave radio, so just bear with me, and stop the shit!"

 

"Fine..." Kal-El said curtly.

 

"Fine!" Luthor agreed. 

 

He composed himself and went back to kneel as before, where Kal-El could see him as he spoke.

 

"Kal-El!" Lex said suddenly, loudly.  "Look at me!"

 

"Wah-?" he trained his eye on Lex.

 

"Kal-El of Krypton," Luthor exhorted, "now's the time, Kal-El.  Now's the time to be the hero.  Now's the time to show me - as close to a fucking Prince of Earth as you're going to see - to show me, what the fuck you're made of."

 

Slight frown, then, slowly, "Lex..."

 

Cutting Kal-El off, Lex enjoined, "Grab your god damn onion sack, Kal-El!"

 

"W-hat...?" came reply.

 

"Kal-El, I bet you read every article about super-human feats when you were growing up..."

 

Kal-El avoided agreeing.

 

"Well, you are now in that position, Kal-El," Lex said as he spread his hands wide.

 

"...uh..." Kal-El said, "...I'm...uh...under whelmed...Alexander J. Luthor of Earth," and Lex broke out in a grin.

 

"Simple ideas power history, Kal-El," Lex noted, and Kal-El gave a little groan.

 

"Thank you, Lex..." Kal-El's voice was heard, "for not letting...me die... before I heard another maxim involving history..."

 

"Now," Lex continued, "this is the hard part -"

 

From Kal-El, a small snort, then, "...oh, there's a hard part..."

 

"You have to stop your sniveling, and do it, right now!" Lex barked, "Right now, god damn it, before your sun-vitality and your life-blood are both lost enough, to keep you from doing it!"

 

"...that time's already past, Lex..." Kal-El confessed, "I'm weak, now..."

 

"Listen to me!" Luthor yelled at him with a hard tone, "We're going to begin together, and stay together, and finish on this, do you understand?"

 

"...ngh...what...ever..."

 

"Don't fucking 'whatever' me, Alien!" Lex yelled, "Did you travel light-years, saved from the destruction of your entire race, only to be swallowed - ignominiously, I might add - within the very arms of Mother Earth, where you sought refuge?"

 

"Shut up..." Kal-El voiced, peevishly.

 

"Is Warrior Angel - in the comics - going to outlast the mighty Kal-El?" Luthor continued to prod.

 

"So...Kal-El was big stuff for a few years, then, poof! - Nobody knew what happened to him?"

 

"Stop!" the simulacron snarled, through misaligned jaws.

 

"It will be the gossip highlight of the century - hell, the millennium: Hey, remember that blue and red guy - what was his name? - who used to jump around saving everyone?" Lex harassed, on.

 

"What the hell ever happened to him, they'll ask... and some of them, mostly the criminal element you've fought so...nobly...they'll say you just didn't have the stuff!

 

"Fuck off!" Kal-El hacked out.  "I'd like to see you down here, see what you could take, of this!"

                                                

"Well, then fucking come up here and get me, you whining Son of a Bitch - and I'll tell you how to do it:  you get your act together and you vibrate your atoms until they are at Super-speed," and Luthor heard the simulacron groan.

 

"Then," Lex continued, "this will shake a space loose," and he heard Kal-El grunt, saw his the features upon the simulacron's face begin to blur.

 

"And, then," Luthor began repeating, "you edge your way down, and to your right, always DOWN, and to your RIGHT, Kal-El, down, and to your right -"

 

"It's… not… enough..." Kal-El wrenched out, a monumental effort in his voice.

 

"I don't care if it's molecule by fucking molecule!" Luthor rejected, "Get you ass down and to the right, so you can get stronger, and then can drill back up to the surface, and then you can come and kick my ass, and we'll talk about it then."

 

From the simulacron, Luthor overheard Kal-El's anguished sounds, but he stayed on duty, taunting Kal-El.

 

"Actually, I'd just as soon you didn't make it, you worthless Alien - I rather like my ass un-kicked, if it's just the same to you - so, Go Ahead And Fucking Fail!"

 

"Besides," Luthor added with a malicious grin, "You've already given me your Fortress - your own AI heard the bequeath - and, what a hay-day LexCorp stock will see, given the extensive resources, just from what's been revealed so far, and I know this is but a slight fraction..."

 

"LEX!"  Kal-El called out, as the simulacron rolled over onto its stomach.

 

"I'm out...I'm out...oh, I'm out...oh, god..." and he choked and spat, mixed with cries of relief mixed and groans of residual pain, as the sunlight began Kal-El's healing bath.

 

"I can't believe it…oh, god, I can't believe it!" Lex heard him sing.

 

On the job, Luthor immediately ordered, "Kal-El, cauterize your hand with your Heat Vision!"

 

"It's...it's not working so well..." Kal-El exhaled, winded from breathing great gusts of good, fresh air.

 

~~~one eye~~~ Luthor remembered.

 

Then he heard, "There...there...good enough."

 

Staring around his bedroom, Lex was elated, "Kal-El! You'll be healing with the sun's rays...tell me, as it occurs."

 

The AI said, "Kal-El has collapsed from the exertion; I will monitor the healing.  You did well, Lex, and we are in your debt."

 

"Well, Kal-El did give me the Fortress..." Lex mocked the attempt, leaning back on his heels, now, with hands in his pockets.

 

"Of which your success robbed you, it seems," the AI parried, then added coyly, "Perhaps you will win a prize."

 

Lex knew the AI meant Kal-El, and he smirked with pleasure at the thought.

 

**

 

For Lex, it was fourteen weeks before hisClark announced Kal-El's return to his home, for he could only travel by daylight, and he hadn't, as yet, regained flight.

 

"Where is he?" Luthor asked excitedly, then tamped it down. 

 

~~~jeezus, why don't you blow your wad, Luthor~~~ Lex admonished himself.

 

Then, "Where is he?"

 

They were in the lab area as hisClark explained, "Kal-El is ensconced in the healing area, which focuses Sol's radiation onto his body, intensified similarly as a laser intensifies light."

 

~~~wow~~~he's plugged into his charger~~~ Lex thought in wonderment.

 

"How's he doing? And, will you be able to regenerate his damaged areas?"

 

HisClark said, "I have assessed the damaged tissue and have created healing boxes to accomplish that - with success, I foresee.  Kal-El is doing well and will be able to see you soon, Lex.  He asked about you, too."

 

Luthor used a blase expression to cover the little lilt to his stomach this last information caused him.  Then, he broke from work and made his way to pour a Scotch, to ponder things in his living area, to prepare for when he would meet Kal-El, again.

 

 

**

 

A few sleep-periods later, and hisClark announced, "Kal-El would like to come to your plateau, to visit you."

 

~~~so formal~~~ Lex thought, then replied, "Kal-El is welcome here; no need to wait."

 

Moments later, from the corner of his eye, Lex saw the figure of Superman land in the middle of the plateau, approaching at a steady walk.

 

Luthor thought in some distress ~~~he knows I hate him in that costume~~~this is not good~~~

 

As Kal-El neared, Lex noticed he wore a silver metal eye patch and that his left hand was encased in a small silver pod.  Other than that, he looked exactly as before.

 

~~~before~~~ Lex fought back grim memories.

 

 Kal-El smiled lightly as he approached, stopping a few feet before Lex.  HisClark disappeared from their sides.

 

"Lex," Kal-El began, "I wanted to say, thank you so much…so much, for doing what you did, and - "

 

Sliding forward a small step or two, Lex brought himself up close to interrupt, "Kal-El!  Even-Steven, okay?" and he held up his hand for a slide/knock.

 

Kal-El was smiling and returning it before he imposed self-restraint, and he schooled the pleasure from his face, and proceeded with something he evidently had prepared. 

 

After clearing his throat and squaring his shoulders, Kal-El said, "Uh, Lex, I wanted to give you something nice, you know, in thanks," and he coughed a little.

 

~~~and the thirty-something hero~~~is now the school-boy of yore~~~ Lex looked on, with a small smile.

 

Blinking his light-blue eyes for a moment, Lex replied, "Well, um, thank you," stifling the comments coming to mind...about gifts, for saving lives.

 

Shuffling his feet slightly, Kal-El brought forward his good hand and plunked a draw-stringed bag into the hand Luthor brought forward, to meet.

 

~~~heavy~~~jewels~~~ Luthor's hand assessed.

 

"Kal-El, -" Lex began.

 

"Open it, Lex," Kal-El said, over him.

 

Teasing apart the black velvet bag's drawstrings, the cloth fell back to expose a palm-full of diamonds.  Luthor stared at the brilliant, sparkling colors.

 

"I made you a collection, Lex," Kal-El explained with a gentle smile, his eyes full of earnest emotions.  "There're all identical, flawless, white diamonds - one hundred of them."

 

Luthor plucked one and held it up.  The walls all around lighted up with rainbows.

 

Luthor admired what shone aloft.  The radiance led him to Kal-El. 

 

~~~flawless~~~

 

Lex said, "I feel…rich." 

 

Looking abashed, the alien then said sweetly, "I made them…I made them all, for you."

 

Lex looked, again, from diamond, to Kal-El, standing as he was, giving his full-beam smile and emblazoned with his vivid, gem-shaped shield.

 

"I think," Luthor nodded as he muttered to himself, "that I comprehend your symbol, a little better."

 

"And, it was an exception for me, you know, Lex," Kal-El explained, "just to even make them for you, because I know you won't flood the world market with them...will you?"

 

A little shake of his head in the negative, and Lex was looking down for a minute, then he lifted his eyes and said, "Truly a gift of kings, Kal-El...I thank you."

 

A pleasant tint found its way to Kal-El's cheeks as he grinned and looked downward, ducking his head a little.

 

~~~such a kid~~~ Lex thought, with a genuine smile coming to his face.

 

As Lex closed the bag and found a breast pocket for it, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "So, how did you come up with this incredible idea?"

 

After a frozen gawk, the Kryptonian's face flashed a bright red, then he found his toes again and mumbled, "Well, um, I happened to have this supply of coal lying around..."

 

With another cough, Kal-El looked around, then said, "Well, I guess I'll take you back... you know...home now, Lex... the AI says you've brought human energy technology to a level to make a huge difference... and, I appreciate your hard work."

 

Small movements to his booted-feet once more, he added, "Um, no hard feelings, okay, you know, about my taking you here...?"

 

Then his face clouded.

 

"And we have serious issues to resolve, like 33.1, Lex, and what it represents of what you do in the world," earnest brows worked as Kal-El looked, suddenly, straight at Luthor.

 

"We have some serious talking to do, Lex."

 

Now this, Lex could handle, and he comfortably placed his hands in his pockets and proclaimed, "I'm ready for those talks, Kal-El."

 

In response to Kal-El's slight look of skepticism, Lex explained, "You know, Kal-El, I never respected you and this Superman-thing..."

 

Kal-El swallowed, and Lex continued, "...and I admit I underestimated you...what you do...every day...just another superhero day."

 

"I bet no one else will ever know, about your travails below the earth, will they?" Lex asked. 

 

Kal-El looked aside, self-effacing.

 

"Nope," Luthor inferred, "Just take a rest, then up at dawn, for just another superhero day."

 

Lex stated, "Back, when you first started, I saw you take over the media, and suddenly your influence rivaled mine, and I'm the one born to Metropolis.  So, you'll have to understand that I was a little…miffed, and I saw you as an attention hog."

 

"Then, of course, there was...Lana," Luthor mentioned, and they both stared each other down for a while.

 

"And, apropos of 33.1, you and I do have differences in opinions, deep divides, but I'm willing to do a little bartering - I'm only doing the research," Luthor declared, "to ensure that Earth doesn't get caught flat-footed again, when the next 'black ship' comes."

 

"I hope you also understand that I have to structure-in a profit," Lex added, frowning for emphasis, "which those of us, who, in a Capitalistic society, employ millions, and who are listed on the Dow, need to think about."

 

"So, if…oh, all of us," Lex said lightly, "can work together, to create a credible system of world defense, then I can see opening up the project to public scrutiny."

 

~~~easy concession~~~it's busted, now, anyway~~~ Lex thought, and he drew his fingers down his tie a bit, settled his feet, right and left.

 

"Thank you, Lex," Kal-El said after a moment's hesitation, clasping his hands behind his back. "I appreciate you offering that."

 

Luthor gave a short nod in acknowledgment.

 

"I also, uh, understand," Kal-El continued, brows tweaked a bit, "that 33.1 is defunct anyway, so to keep from losing control of it entirely, you're beginning negotiations by offering what was essentially already a given, to occur, now that I know about the project."

 

Now Lex looked amused and tipped his head in a little salute.

 

~~~not so stupid, after all~~~ Luthor's eyes shined.

 

Trying to look casual, nonetheless Kal-El's expression betrayed his pleasure at the score, and he looked down, working to suppress a proud turn at the edge of his small smile.

 

"You know," Luthor flirted, hands in his trouser pockets and slipping forward another bit, "when you're not being entirely unreasonable…you're entirely fetching."

 

Sobering up from that, Kal-El was all business as he took a small step back, retreat in mind, once again.

 

"So, uh, Lex," he gave an ending smile, "thank you so much, again, for everything, and, um, -"

 

"I hope you don't frustrate my start at getting to know you, Kal-El, just when we're doing so well," Luthor ventured, while Kal-El was distracted monitoring how Lex could stand in one place, and yet move around so much.

 

Shielding himself from Luthor's psychological advance, Kal-El crossed his heavy arms over his family's sigil, emblazoned in red and yellow over his massive blue chest.

 

~~~look at him!~~~ Lex gave a touch of a grin ~~~when he clamps his jaws shut like that~~~even those lips look fuller...oh, god, can you imagine~~~

 

Luthor's flight of thoughts abandoned the tantalizing memories of hisClark, whose face, in contrast, always wore a pleasant, appreciative smile...always.

 

Leveling a stern gaze over locked, burly arms, Kal-El informed, "Luthor, you saw me at my most vulnerable, and I'd appreciate if you just backed-off -"

 

"To what we had, before?" Lex rebuked.  "So, what are you afraid of, Kal-El?  What's with... these snubs: - 'Luthor', not 'Lex' - arriving in costume - hmm?"

 

Annoyed, Kal-El cut it short and just bit out, "I'm not going to be your pity-fuck, Lex," then added, a bit stronger, "or, your 'new piece of ass'!"

 

~~~boy, does he look bitter~~~ Lex marveled while barking out, "'New piece of...'?  You figure, I'm just some cock-hungry..."

 

"Yes!" Kal-El threw out.

 

Agitated, Luthor drew forth hands from pockets to gesticulate back and forth between them,

 

"You don't get it, do you, Kal-El?" Luthor accused.  "You don't 'get' who we are?"

 

"Yeah, I 'get' it," Kal-El countered, "we're always fighting, and it never works out, and I'm not going to have you crow for the rest of your life that you suckered me under the sheets with you."

 

"Fine! Then fuck me!" Luthor offered.

 

"You'd crow about that, too," Kal-El asserted.

 

After a moment, Lex nodded ~~~he does have a point~~~

 

"Okay," Lex spoke aloud, "but, you're still not seeing the big picture, here -"

 

"Oh," sore hurt springing to his face, Kal-El offered, "here's where you teach me what an imbecile I am."

 

A snort and a frown, then, from Lex, "No, I'm not presenting this like that, so don't read that here."

 

"Oh boy," Kal-El said falsely, "I get to wait for the shoe to drop, later."

 

"Kal-El, god damn it!" Lex flashed, "I'm trying for a new start, here -"

 

"You don't respect me, Lex!" and that was it. 

 

The two of them just stared at each other while things cooled for a moment.

 

Cooler, yes, but with vibrant intensity, Lex's blue eyes bore upward as he delivered, "And, that's what has changed," and he turned to find a drink.

 

In a moment, over the glass rim, Lex glanced and thought ~~~at least his fucking jaw doesn't look like he's getting ready to chew steel~~~

 

Then Kal-El spoke.  "You thought I was a big baby, Lex."

 

Another sip.  "Surely, you're not referring to that crap I was slinging, to spur you, at the end?"

 

"No, earlier," Kal-El said, and, at Lex's frown, added, "It wasn't in any word, that you said, Lex - but, I know you... remember?"

 

Luthor schooled his face and looked down to lightly swirl his drink.

 

"I am pleased to be the first to hear of your new power of Super-know, Kal-El," Lex raised his glass in salute.

 

"That's right," Luthor continued as he smacked the burn of his Scotch, "I admit it - I came into it thinking you were a blubbering baby, an ersatz Warrior Angel, ready to throw in the towel - I am a Luthor, after all - and we don't accept weakness."

 

Kal-El lifted his head to look away a little, face tight.

 

"But, Kal-El," Luthor asked, "do you remember, word for word, noise for noise, what you sounded like?"

 

Hands clenched at his side, Kal-El began, "You can't even imagine -!"

 

"You're right!" Lex interrupted.  "I couldn't imagine it - I couldn't imagine it - until, I did," and he placed his drink on the low table, approaching the super-being in a slow pace.

 

In earnest, Lex began, "I can't believe what you… made it through..."

 

Casting down his gaze, his brows pinching, Kal-El relaxed a bit.

 

"...I don't know," Lex continued, "if I could have handled the level of pain you must have been experiencing..."

 

Kal-El looked aside.

 

"...and still remained cogent, much less rouse myself, to bull my crushed form's way through solid ground...to live!"

 

And Lex was there.  Touching, palm on symbol.

 

Kal-El shuddered-in a jagged breath, and held stiff.

 

Lex clutched at Kal-El's good hand and kneaded his feelings from his own fingers...and, brought Kal-El alive and into his arms.

 

They hugged and hugged, as Kal-El wept.

 

When he could, Kal-El stuttered, "...I couldn't... understand... why this was happening to me..." and he choked on a bitter laugh.

 

"...I guess...I just thought, you know..." and he sobbed, "...I work so hard, Lex..."

 

"I know," Lex comforted, "I know."

 

The alien went on, "I work so hard, you know... to do good... and I just couldn't understand...how... how I could be  be... given that!"

 

"Years of that!" he bawled.

 

"Hmm, I know," and Lex enjoyed the good smell of him.

 

"I just...I just couldn't... I couldn't understand... what I did...to deserve it..." he managed to get out, while Lex rocked him gently, right and left, on their feet together.

 

~~~he's such a Boy Scout~~~ he's so naive~~~ Lex fondly thought ~~~as if, people deserve what they get!~~~ and he smirked as he squeezed his arms around him.

 

"...when...Lex, when...I...couldn't even handle one second of it!"

 

"Oh, Kal-El," Lex murmured in sympathy as they moved closer in their embrace.  He spread his lean fingers their soothing way from Kal-El's smooth neck, up through the thatch of his head.

 

"Oh, god, Lex, oh, Lex...I was so happy...when I felt my fingers go...and I started to bleed-out, I was so happy...I was so happy, I cried, Lex... I just cried and cried..."

 

Fingers grasping ebony locks, Lex pulled Kal-El from his shoulder, and, now face to face, exclaimed, "No! No, I wasn't going to let that happen!"

 

"Thank you for saving me, Lex!" Kal-El cried, and Luthor pressed him down to his own voracious lips, bringing up his other arm to encase their frantic kiss.

 

**

 

They had crumbled to the floor of Lex's living area.

 

In the next blink, transported to Kal-El's bed, they soon lay side-by-side, thumbs pulling at fabric layers.

 

Their movements leading with open mouths, their tongues sought sensation.    

 

Spontaneously, they each, most carefully, avoided touching below the waist, as yet. 

 

Facing each other as they lay upon the bed, their steepled bodies met at knee and forehead.  They lay mouths and hands on each other, over head and neck, gray.  A primary palette was knee-to-knee with grays and blacks.

 

Soon, Lex lay on his back, and Kal-El answered the invitation to hover over him, hand and elbow, and savored Lex displaying himself beneath him. 

 

With a low hum in his chest, the alien bit off buttons, to be spat aside, and all the while his unpatched eye stared Lex Luthor down.  He lifted his hand to flip open the fine lavender shirt, watching for responses.

 

Quietly saucy, Luthor merely let his eyes smirk, since his tongue was busy licking his own lips, just the tender, pink inside of them; just a tiny, slow lick or two, here and there.

 

Sun-orange veined Kal-El's agate eye, and his head tipped down, lowering like a bull's.  For a brief second his grin was nasty - especially when he noticed the glow Luthor showed in response.

 

He swooped down to commandeer Lex's mouth.

 

When Lex wasn't squealing from his tongue being tugged, excitement made its way, in little huffs, from between his bow-lips. 

 

When Kal-El reached his good hand around, Luthor was clutched from the back, his jacket and shirt caught up in Kal-El's big mitt. 

 

Luthor bowed backward, going with the feeling of being nabbed-up, and he offered the exposed part of the pale skin of his chest without shame, eyes slits, lips kissed fat, and dumb.

 

The Gucci on his feet dragged along the bedclothes, while being inexorably drawn closer to that blue burliness.  Lex rutted his hips once and toed-off his shoes and dug his heels in.

 

When his middle reached Kal-El, their soft gasp accompanied his success, and he held his position, looking downward with Kal-El, as their groins met.  They grunted as they availed themselves of each other, hardness rolling over hardness, and, at times, their lips came up to whip frantically.

 

Kal-El slowed to a kiss.  He scooted down to nose-aside, further, the lavender plackets of the buttonless attire.   The pursed pillows of Kal-El's lust-rouged lips swiped over the tiny towers of attention on either side of Lex's chest.

 

~~~I'm~~~going~~~insane~~~ Luthor barely managed to formulate, as those minx eyes stared upward, while the frigid breath of doom hinted of its vast power by sending two vaguely-chilled puffs over glistening wetness.

 

Luthor shivered.

 

The Kryptonian chuckled and kissed proprietarily along various stretches of skin.  He drew himself down, then, to rest the hollow of his golden cheek over Luthor's large bulge, request for permission.

 

Luthor tracked that dark green orb, raising and lowering with the heave of his groin.

 

**

 

They were naked and in each other's mouth's, now, curled around each other like an eternal symbol.

 

Fingers felt - pulled skin smooth - Kal-El petting eternal silkiness, Lex locating soft down.

 

Luthor pulled his lips from the cherry-red sucker and left his thickened spit there.  When Kal-El released him, too, Lex hopped up onto his knees.  Lining-up his purple rod, he docked them, head to head.

 

Two-handed, Lex pulled down Kal-El's uncut skin to cover both knobs, and at his deft twists they both hissed.

 

"Ah-h!" Kal-El gusted his approval, and next he was settling knee to knee before Lex, his big arms draping over pale, lean shoulders as their foreheads met together and they looked down at their spectacle.

 

Lex whispered, "We are two Princes of the Galaxy, Kal-El, you and I," as Kal-El added his eager hand to their work.

 

"For, who else, would succeed," Lex offered, "in rescuing his own son, out of billions, but the most intelligent…and most powerful man on Krypton."

 

Kal-El was squiggling the tip of his folded tongue along Luthor's temple.

 

"We are...each other's...only true peer," Luthor emphasized with his eyes closed. 

 

As he shuddered from the nose in his ear, he responded with more little licks around that shiny-smooth eyepatch, before continuing.

 

"For, who else knows us," Luthor queried, "but, each other?" and they spent some time accelerating themselves with their hands as their lips dragged along each other's faces.

 

"You...are brave..." short, hard drives they squeezed along their lengths, where they met in the middle, and they both added more spit.

 

"While I am a genius..." one…two, one-two.

 

Kal-El moaned.

 

Bow-lips placed a lingering buss on that corded neck.

 

"You," he kissed, "wear that bright costume..."

 

Drive-drive-drive.

 

"...to show the world who you are..."

 

J-u-s-t a hard, slow twist.

 

"...oh...L-e-x..."

 

Drive-drive.

 

Silver eyepatch hiding one eye, Kal-El clamped the other shut, and kept it thus, but not before Lex saw flame overtake that agate iris.

 

Lex went on, ""And I... wear my knobby pate... to show the world..."

 

Drive-drive-drive-twist.

 

"...who I am."

 

Lex's thoughts strayed, for their hands were becoming less sure and, glancing up, he saw Kal-El struggling with ecstatic suffering, saw his face containing it, just barely.

 

"But," there's one thing..."

 

And their fingertips wove madness.

 

"...I want to know..."

 

"Lex!"

 

"I wanna know, Kal-EL..."

 

Twist, twist, twist...their fists worked.

 

Kal-El's head was lolling.

 

"...just, when are you gonna let that seed loose, for me..." 

 

Kal-El shrieked and shot hot against Luthor, within their shared casing, and Luthor yelled aloud as he sent his own, back at him. 

 

As they separated suddenly, they rose and joyfully painted each other, showing off until they had no more.

 

Luthor slumped to the sheets with an open-mouthed smile.

 

Kal-El sat on his heels, giving an exerted, but full-beam, boyish grin.

 

**

 

Lying together, soon Lex griped, Jeezus, you were hard to get into bed."

 

Kal-El giggled and said, "Naw, the AI's the slut around here," and they shared a chuckle.

 

"And," Luthor added, "what's with that time-flow game you ran on me?"

 

The alien turned his head on his pillow and explained seriously, "Lex, it's so hard to find something I can haze you with."

 

~~~what a pout he makes~~~ Lex smiled to himself, taking-in that burnished form,  perfect, even while wearing war medals from his battle with Earth.

 

With a slight smirk, Luthor raised himself upon one elbow and let his fingers stroke the gentle frame of face, the relaxed lips he was leaning toward.

 

"Let's not let it get bad again," Lex said as he kissed, "okay?"

 

Threading his fingers into Lex's, Kal-El grinned and said, "Yeah."

 

**

 

While Lex made ready to return, to pick up his life after less than two week's elapsed Real Time, Kal-El stood in his central command chamber.

 

"AI," the Kryptonian called forth, "before I go, I have some concerns about how you, uh, went about, uh, things, with Lex -"

 

"Kal-El," came the reply, "you tasked me to work with Lex, to solve the world's greatest problem."

 

"Well, yes," Kal-El agreed, "but, -"

 

"And, now that you and Lex are together," the AI gently explained, "have I not?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-finis-

 

 

Copyright; Story, not Characters, by Rose etta, March 15, 2007

 

***

Special Acknowledgments: Thanks to talitha78 for helping me with her subtle beta feedback. ~~ Thanks to suzycat for her improvement of my down-under-talk, and her being hilariously forthright about just how bad mine was. *is still chuckling* ~~Thanks to all the wonderful fellow fan-tabulous SV Fandom-sters, for so much shared happiness and fun. ~~ Thanks to all CLex writers, for your efforts create our manna, and inspire others, such as myself, to join your welcoming ranks.  This is my Valentine <3 to all SV CLexers.

 

Note: Quantum dots is an emerging technology that aims to reduce photo-voltaic /solar panel manufacturing cost, which is presently stubbornly-high, largely due to the expense of manufacturing  the requisite virtually-perfect hyper-thin film comprised of the light-sensitive material. 

 

The new Quantum Dot approach achieves essentially what a newspaper does, when an image is created by a lot of little dots. 

 

Quantum dot technology applies an array of hyper-tiny (3 to 5 microns) photo-voltaic dots, packed terribly close together, upon a relatively-cheap substrate film.  The demands of this manufacturing technique are far lower, and, if materials science develops the right light-sensitive material for this scenario, it might make photo-voltaics inexpensive enough to even wear. *is so doing it*